Toshinan

Reawakening a Treasure

By Julia Adams, horticulturist for the Japanese Garden
PHOTOS BY: SEBASTIAN ORTIZ MUNOZ

Seated in the Cultural Center of the Japanese Garden, beyond the Taylor Gate, visitors may discover a 16th-century, Sukiya–style teahouse, named “Toshinan.” While the teahouse might look untouched since its construction in 1993, the scent of freshly shaved and sanded cedar that lingered in the breeze this past summer is evidence of the restorative construction completed by carpenter Hirøshi Awano and copper craftsman Taichirou Ishii.

Since its creation, the teahouse was built with the mindfulness of honoring Japanese culture and tradition. The teahouse was crafted entirely from materials brought from Japan, and built by Kazunori Tago, one of the finest miyadaiku, or Japanese temple and shrine builders, using only traditional tools and techniques. This construction was made possible through partnership with Birmingham’s sister city, Maebashi, Japan. Toshinan was the name given to the teahouse and literally translates to “light, heart and mind, and retreat.” It’s also a homonym for the Japanese phrase that translates to “the wick of a lantern.” Together, Toshinan has been more thoughtfully translated as the name of the teahouse in the Birmingham Botanical Gardens to: “The place where those gathered can light a wick [of understanding] in each others’ hearts.”

Because this unique structure is made mostly of wood, copper, and bamboo, some sections of the teahouse have been damaged over time by insects, animals, and the elements. This summer, two professional craftsmen worked together to make repairs and upgrades to Toshinan. Hirøshi Awano, carpenter, and Taichirou Ishii, copper craftsman, worked together to replace damaged wood and repair the roof. Because the roof of the teahouse is made entirely out of interlocked strips of copper, certain repairs required the removal and replacement of the copper roof. The wood had to be matched not only by type—Western Red Cedar and Hinoki Cypress—but also in grain, stain, thickness, and texture. The two craftsmen worked together to flawlessly restore Toshinan through their thoughtful decisions and impressive attention to detail. Damaged wood has been replaced; copper accents have been added in select places to prevent future damage; doors and windows were sanded to encourage easier and smoother closure; and components were cleaned, sanded, and re-stained to give everything a fresh, cohesive finish. We are very fortunate to have Awano-san and Ishii-san make these much-needed repairs, and grateful that they felt so passionate about this unique and exceptional structure. Whenever thanks and admiration were given to their team, they responded with equal gratitude, as they expressed, “It is our honor and pleasure to work on Toshinan.” Their hard work and dedication are displayed through their beautiful craftsmanship, honoring the original structure.

With repairs complete, we hope that Toshinan may be more frequently opened for tea ceremonies, community events, outreach, and education. Because it is an authentic Sukiya-style teahouse, it can only host three to five guests at a time for chado, or the formal tea ceremony. This makes for a very personal and genuine experience with tea ceremonies. Most of these opportunities will be offered with the support of the knowledgeable and passionate Chado Urasenke Tankokai Birmingham Association, a school of Japanese tea ceremony located in Birmingham. Please stay tuned for upcoming events or sign up for our monthly newsletter at bbgardens.org.