Rotating the Tea Bowl (茶碗を回して飲む - Chawan)
The polite ritual of rotating the matcha bowl ('Chawan') clockwise twice before drinking. This avoids placing your lips directly on the bowl's 'Shomen' (front face/most beautiful painted pattern), showing deep humility and respect for the artwork.
The tea host serves the bowl with its most gorgeous face facing you as a gesture of respect. By rotating the bowl, the guest elegantly displays humility, avoiding staining the main artwork with their lips while admiring its design.
1. Pick up the bowl with your right hand, place it on your left palm, and bow slightly. 2. Rotate the bowl clockwise twice (about 90 degrees total) so the painted face turns away from you. 3. Drink in 3-4 sips, making a final loud slurp on your last sip (the signal you finished). 4. Wipe the rim clean, rotate counter-clockwise twice, and return.
What is the polite reason for rotating your matcha bowl clockwise twice before taking a sip?