In this video [3:56] learn about the Asian Art Museum's Japanese tea room, specifically built for the tea ceremony, a vibrant living practice. This handcrafted structure creates a rustic environment for tea and is a work of art in itself. The tea room was designed to fit into the gallery space and is fully functional. It has an electric burner to heat water for tea and a kitchen or Messiah with running fresh water. The lighting coming through the windows is timed to simulate natural light; there is a morning, afternoon, and evening setting. The alcove or tokonoma is a special area for the display of objects selected to set the theme and stimulate conversation in the tea gathering. A calligraphy scroll, flowers, and incense container are among the items that might be placed here. The tea room was constructed at Nakamura Soto G in Kyoto; Greena Mr. Nakamura swore shop was chosen for its renowned for making high-quality traditional Japanese buildings and because of its stock of beautiful and rare woods collected over generations. A variety of woods are used in the tearoom: cedar, cypress, pine, bamboo, and camellia. This wood is carefully selected and then weathered and dried over a period of time.