Sweets and drinking
When the host takes the chashaku, and starts scooping tea into the bowl:
| Japanese | English | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| Okashi wo douzo. | Please enjoy your sweet. | Host to first guest |
| Chodai itashimasu. | I will have my sweet. | First guest to host |
| Osaki ni. | Please excuse me for going first. | First guest to next guest |
When you receive your tea:
| Japanese | English | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| Oshoban itashimasu. | I will join you. | To the guest above you |
| Osaki ni. | Please excuse me for going first. | To the guest below you |
| Otemae chodai itashimasu | Thank you for the tea. | To the host |
After everybody is done drinking:
| Japanese | English | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| Douzo oshimai kudasai. | Please finish. | First guest to host |
| Oshimai itashimasu. | I will finish. | Host to first guest |
Haiken
After the host finishes closing:
| Japanese | English | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| Douzo o-natsume, o-chashaku no haiken wo. | May we please see the natsume and the chashaku? | First guest to host |
After you’ve taken everything to your seat, before you start viewing your first object:
| Japanese | English | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| Osaki ni. | Please excuse me for going first. | To the guest below you |
After dougu is returned to the host:
| Japanese | English | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| O-natsume no katachi wa? | What is the shape of the natsume? | First guest |
| [Rikyugata chuu natsume] de gozaimasu. | It is a [Rikyu-style middle-sized natsume]. | Host |
| O-nuri wa? | And the lacquer? | First guest |
| [Sotetsu] de gozaimasu. | It was lacquered by [Sotetsu]. | Host |
| O-chashaku no osaku wa? | Who carved the chashaku? | First guest |
| [Zabosai Oiemoto] de gozaimasu. | [Zabosai Oiemoto] carved the chashaku. | Host |
| Gomei wa? | And its poetic name? | First guest |
| [Aki no you] de gozaimasu. | It is named [Autumn Leaf]. | Host |
Natsume vs other usuchaki
Natsume are not the only containers used in usucha. There are many others. If you encounter a shape that is different from the standard natsume shape, it is referred to as an usuchaki, or an usuki.