ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Kama (Japanese tea ceremony)

Kama is a special ceremony that people from Japan do when they make and serve tea. The ceremony is also called the Japanese Tea Ceremony. It's a way for people to show respect to each other and have good manners while they drink tea.

During the ceremony, people usually sit on the floor on pretty mat-like cushions called tatami. The tatami are usually in a special room called a tea room. The tea room is usually decorated with pretty flowers and other nature themes.

When the ceremony is about to start, the host who is making the tea will use a special kettle called a kama to heat up water. Then, they will take some special green tea powder called matcha and put it in a bowl. They will add hot water to the bowl and mix it all up with a bamboo whisk called a chasen. After everything is mixed together, the tea is ready to drink.

The host will then serve the tea to the guests. They will be very polite and respectful while doing this. The guests will drink the tea and enjoy it together. Often little snacks will be served as well.

The Kama ceremony is a special way for Japanese people to show respect to each other and enjoy good tea. It takes lots of practice and skill to do it perfectly, but it's a great way to share a special moment with friends!