A rare instructional volume of the Ogawa-ryū (小川流) school of sencha-dō (the art of steeped-leaf tea), titled 「卓子点前 一」(Takujidemae Ichi) — “Table Service, Volume I.”
Published in the Shōwa period by Ogawa Kōrakudō (小川後楽堂), this beautifully bound manual records the precise methods, etiquette, and philosophy of table-style sencha preparation used by advanced practitioners of the Ogawa lineage.
Inside, the text is printed on warm-toned washi paper, written in a vertical brush-style script detailing each stage of the ceremony — from preparing utensils and heating water to serving tea and sweets.
A fold-out illustration labeled “文人卓子座点荘 (Bunjin Takujiza Tenshō)” diagrammatically presents all tools and their arrangement: teapot (kyūsu), cups, kettle (tetsubin), trays, and floral ornament.
The Ogawa-ryū is one of Japan’s most respected sencha-dō (煎茶道) traditions, distinct from matcha-based tea ceremony schools. Rooted in Chinese literati (文人) tea culture, sencha emphasizes elegance, simplicity, and the harmony between calligraphy, incense, and fine utensils.
This text’s reference to 文人卓子前 (Bunjin Takujimae) reflects a blend of Chinese literati refinement and Japanese discipline, revealing how sencha-dō bridged classical art and modern aesthetics during the Shōwa era.
This publication is scarce even in Japan, as Ogawa-ryū materials were often reserved for licensed tea practitioners and never widely sold. The inclusion of the original fold-out setup diagram and authentic calligraphic title slip greatly enhances its collector value.
A refined addition for collectors of:
