Koshikake machiai

Koshikake machiai 腰掛待合- the waiting arbor:

The waiting arbour in the Roji. Some larger tea complexes have both and uchi and a soto koshikake. The soto koshikake is outside the gate in the Roji, while the uichi is on the inside and closer to the tea room. But most people only have a soto.

During a Chaji the guests will bee seated in the koshikake after leaving the Machiai. The host will have put out Enza for them to sit on and a Tabako bon for them to enjoy. The host will then come and greet the guest silently.

Also during the Nakadachi the guest will be seated in the koshikake, while the host does the nessecary preparations.

There should also be a Sechin conected to the koshikake.

The soto-koshikake is in the outer roji but close enough to hear the Teishu pour water in the Tsukubai. It is good if the Shokyaku can see the intervening chumon, 中門  middle gate, either by means of a window or out front, and barely glimpses the honseki 本席 teahouse roof. There are both free-standing and attached koshikake.

In the best of cases, an inner waiting arbor, uchi-koshikake, usually smaller and more intimate than outer koshikake; so Guests do not have to return to outside world; (at Urasenke, the old Rikyu Onsodo which used to straddle/ be close to Omotesenke line is used). It has the real “useable” Setchin next door

Simple ones are a roofed bench, with deep eaves, clay-walled back and sides for protection and a toilet, Setchin (雪院). More elaborate koshikake have seperate seat for Shokyaku (daimyo), elaborate windows, rack for suzuri and paper, mino and kasa (straw raincoat and hat) hanging on wall, doors into the back-setchin, etc.

The back wall is papered with black or blue Minato paper, to protect the Guests kimono from back and side walls. The Shokyaku’s side should have a window (下地窓 shitaji mado) to see nakamon or the Teishu coming. On the Tsume’s side, a bamboo peg should be driven into the edge hashira to hold the rojiboki a.k.a. shuroboki, a green palm leaf broom.

Usually one larger or higher stone is for the Main Guest, whose seat is located so as to see the Teishu first coming to greet Guests. Other smaller stones or single slab does for other Guests. The materials for koshikake should be one step down from those used in the seki.

Koshikake Dogu

Palm leaf broom sotetsu hoki 蘇鉄箒,-freshly made; hangs on koshikake pillar
Enza 円座- round pads covered / corn shucks; Guests number only
Tabako bon – hi’ire, Haifuki bamboo, etc. 煙草盆
Heat in Ro Season
Te-aburi 手炙
Hibachi 火鉢, on ground; often Suribachi 擂鉢 grinding bowl, with Warabai-burnt straw ash
Light at dark, portable lanterns for roji
Roji Andon 行灯 ; near koshikake machiai
Ashimoto Andon 足元行灯 ; on roji if distant from koshikake
Te-shoku 手燭 ; hand-held candle sticks
Ishidoro 石燈 stone lantern

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