Ichi-go ichi-e (Japanese): "one time, one meeting"

Here is a cultural concept that describes treasuring the unrepeatable nature of a moment. It's often translated as "for this time only" or "once in a lifetime," reminding us to cherish every gathering. Each moment is unique and can never be replicated, even when the same people gather in the same place again. As a result, every encounter is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. This idea is most often linked to Japanese tea ceremonies and, in particular, to tea masters Sen no Rikyū and Ii Naosuke.