How to read it
一期一会 is read ichi-go ichi-e, in four beats. In English it is usually written ichigo ichie.
What the characters mean
一 (ichi) is one. 期 (go) here means a span of time, and 一期 (ichigo) is a whole lifetime. 会 (e) is a meeting or gathering, so 一会 (ichie) is one meeting. Put together: one meeting in one lifetime.
Where it comes from
The idea comes from the Japanese tea ceremony. The tea master Sen no Rikyū taught that a host should treat every gathering as one that happens only once in a lifetime, and his student Yamanoue Sōji wrote the teaching down in the 16th century. In the 19th century Ii Naosuke, a statesman and devoted tea practitioner, used the four-kanji form 一期一会 in his writing on tea, and the phrase spread from there.
How people use it today
Today ichigo ichie is used far beyond tea: for a trip, a reunion, a first meeting, a concert, or simply a good evening with friends. It is a gentle reminder that the people in front of you, here and now, are worth your full attention.
Wear it
Ichigo Ichie T-Shirt
The four kanji for ichigo ichie – one time, one meeting – with a branch of cherry blossoms. A reminder to treasure every moment with the people you love. Soft Softstyle cotton in 11 colors, sizes S–3XL.
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