urasenke newsletter 141 -...

Urasenke Newsletter Kyoto, Japan

Hear the Breeze, See the Moon

As you know, Urasenke has been carrying out restoration work on the Konnichian tea room complex since 2013. It will still require some years until completion, but in early May this year, we set up an altar in the tokonoma of the Totsutotsusai construction site and held the ridgepole rais-ing ceremony (jôtôsai).

For this time's raising of the Totsutotsusai ridgepole, I wrote the ridgepole label, and as I was looking at the ridgepole lable that Master Gengensai wrote one hundred and sixty-two years ago, in 1856, which was the year of the 200th memorial of the death of Sen Sötan, my thoughts were led to this and that about the passage of time; to things which have changed during the interim, and to things which have remained unchanged.

The modern-day cityscape is changing more and more. For example, in Kyoto we have a river that is the core or bedrock of the city, the Kamogawa River. The area sur-rounding it has changed considerably, with modern style buildings having increased, the ground being covered with concrete, and so forth. But when you go down to the riverbank, the things that you can see from that eye level perhaps have not changed so much.

Before the restoration work began on the historical Kon-nichian complex, I built the Heisei Chashitsu, and I put the name "Chöfü" ( IfgJSJl, "Hear the Breeze") on the room that is on its ground floor. For the room on the second floor, I chose the name "Kangetsu" ( § H , "See the Moon"). These are not Zen words; what I did was to concisely write out things that I usually try to keep in mind.

In my student days, I liked motorbiking as my means of transportation for pleasure, and later I changed to cy-cling, such as on a mountainbike. Now, walking is what I do. When I took up walking, the first thing I thought was, "I used to push against the breeze when I motorbiked. On a bicycle, I cut through the breeze." Now with my walking, "I can hear the breeze." In Master Gengensai's day, the breeze would probably have passed through lusher woods, but even now, if you turn your mind toward the sound of the passing breeze, you can sense the delicate changes. Also, if you shade your eyes and look up at the moon in the middle of the night every so often, you can recognize how it clearly transmits the movement of the seasons. I believe that chanoyu is also a matter that involves taking notice of such things every day. What do you think?

lemoto Zabösai SEN Söshitsu XVI

July 1,2018, No. 141

Tokonoma of the Chöfü-no-ma room in the Heisei Chashitsu at Urasenke, Kyoto, on the day of the Rikyu Memorial. The confections on the red lacquered dish are samples of the "Hanagoromo" and hanamidango which the memorial attendees were served. March 28,2018.

i n t h i s i s s u e

2018 Rikyü Memorial

Succession of Omotesenke lemoto

Konnichian Spring Chakai

Events at Birthplace of Gengensai

Gesshinji Temple Memorial Chakai for Sensö

Daisöshö in China for 40th Anniversary of China-Japan Peace and Friendship Treaty

Daisöshö Visits Paris

Midorikai Alumni Gather at Konnichian for Intensive Study

Midorikai and Gakuen Comings & Goings

—Urasenke Center Galleries— 2018 Spring Special Exhibition

Mushiage Ware

The "Chisoku Anhun" Teaching 2018 Rikyü Memorial

Once we enter the month of June, the day we refer to as böshu falls on the 6th of the month, and nyûbai falls on the 11th. Böshu is among the twenty-four solar terms [nijushi sekki) established in ancient Chi-na. It indicates that the time has come to plant rice, wheat, and such grains. Nyûbai is a special seasonal dividing point, and it indicates when the rains of the rainy season should start to fall.The special seasonal dividing points were seasonal indicators formulated by the Japanese, due to the fact that the twenty-four solar terms born in China did not necessarily cor-respond with the climate in Japan. Besides nyûbai, these special seasonal dividing points include doyö, setsubun, higan, and three others. They bring us to realize the deep wisdom of our predecessors.

Chadô is a discipline that can be practiced in everyday places besides the tea room; it definitely is not limited to the tea room. So often, however, people shy away from chadö based merely on its superficial image, and I always feel that this is a pity.

You are no doubt familiar with the Nampô Roku record of Rikyü's teachings, and its opening para-graph which contains the statement, "There is shel-ter enough when the roof does not leak, and food, when it keeps one from starving"— a statement illustrating the teaching,"chisoku anburt" (^è.'U/A), "Appreciating when one has enough; being satis-fied with one's circumstances." I would like for all of you to keep this teaching in mind. The reason I do is because it embraces the chadö teaching. People are bewildered by their rapidly changing social circum-stances, and they are not endeavoring to see where they themselves stand. This year, the cherry blossoms came into bloom earlier than usual, and we were un-able to view them leisurely. That alone is evidence of the clearly progressing destruction of the earth's natural environment. Concerning the global warming problem, however, the nations of the world are still far from being unified in their efforts to prevent its progression, because of the non-agreement of con-cession countries. In order to take care of the earth's natural environment, we must exercise an amount of tolerance and endurance. Among the nations of the world, the island country of Japan is blessed with a beautiful natural environment, and it is for this very reason that I wish day and night for this country to be a source of strength that saves the world.

As summer arrives, please do not let the sultry weather get you down, and please be religious in your chadö training. I wish you much happiness.

Daisöshö Höunsai SEN Genshitsu

Skies were blue and the cherry blossoms were in gorgeous full bloom in Kyoto on March

28 this year, the day of the annual memorial ob-servance at Urasenke Konnichian for SEN Rikyü (1522-91), founder of the Sen families' chadö tradition. Attending the memorial were approxi-

I mately 560 Urasenke chadö followers, includ-5 ing 8 from the Tankökai Toronto Assn., led by

the association's chief of administration, Saori SPOKES; 13 from the Tankökai Beito Assn., led by

the association's president, TSAI CHU Hsiao-Mei; 15 from the chadö club at the University of Hawaii; and Yumiko ONO WIESHEU, who is president of the Tankökai Frankfurt Assn.

By 9:00 A.M., those who had been invited to participate in the opening tea dedication were in their seats in the main room of the Heisei Chashitsu, the Chöfü-no-ma. Those who had been selected to be the representative participants, referred to as the kikkyaku or "drinking guests," were seated in the front row. Once Daisöshö entered and announced that the service would begin, IZUMI Köichirö and Reijirö (the sons of lemoto Zabösai's late broth-er) brought omogashi confections in to the kikkyaku. The confec-tions were from the wagashi maker Kawabata Döki and had the name "Hanagoromo" (Flower Robe). When the kikkyaku finished eating those, lemoto Zabösai entered, prepared the special tea offering, and as Daisöshö chanted the Buddhist "Four Great Vows" (Shiguseigan), lemoto's son. SEN Takafumi, placed the tea on the offering table in the alcove, where hung Urasenke's heirloom portrait of Rikyü. At this moment, all who were present placed their palms together in gasshö. (See top photo) After this, lemoto prepared koicha, and Takafumi carried it to the kikkyaku.

Scene during the shichijishiki dedications in the Chöfü-no-ma.

2 Urasenke Newsletter no. 141

2018 Rikyü Memorial, cont'd. Succession of Omotesenke lemoto

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Calligraphy I 'L> ii'i l i t fS J (Tea: Pure in Heart, Fragrant in Taste), signed A: Mi S )S , Daitoku Sessô.The signée is ODA Sesso (1901-66), the 506th chief abbot of Daitokuji, who was a disciple of Daisôshô's zen mentor, GOTO Zuigan, the 503rd chief abbot. This hung in the alcove of tea-room 5 within the Urasenke Gakuen school building.

At the Chadô Kaikan, SEN Masako and other ladies of the Urasenke head family wel-come the attendees for usucha.

Once the /co/c/io-drinking ended, the room was readied for the Meiyo Shihan title pre-sentation ceremony which the lemoto conducts on this important occasion. This time, twenty-four long-time Ura-senke chadö teachers who have nurtured many pupils received this high title.

Next in the Chöfü-no-ma was the shichijishiki dedica-tions, a conventional element of the main annual memorial observances at Konnichian. lemoto oversaw the dedica-tions, which included the Kinin-kiyotsugu Kagetsu-no-shiki, Chakabuki-no-shiki, Shaza-no-shiki, and Koicha-tsuki Hirakagetsu-no-shiki. (Photo on p. 2, bottom)

As the shichijishiki were underway, the memorial attendees were guided to the second floor of the Heisei Chashitsu, where they could view the articles which were listed on the kaiki record for this day's tea offering service, and then back downstairs for a look at the shichijishiki scene before going across the street to the Chadö Kaikan for a bowl of usucha served by the ladies of the Urasenke head family. The confections which were served here were the same as those served to the kikkyaku at the tea offering service, "Hanagoromo" by Kawabata Döki. Here, however, the con-fections were served in a handled ceramic bowl having decoration of cherry blossoms and maple leaves and bearing the signature of Urasenke XIVTantansai.

At the Urasenke Gakuen school building, the Konnichian deputy tea masters received the attendees for more usucha. The seasonal confections which they served were hanamidango (skewered flow-er-viewing dumplings). At the Chadö Kenshü Kaikan a few short blocks away, there was an additional usucha venue, hosted by the Shikukai group. The flower-shaped omogashi served by them this day were called "Kusa-no-hana" (Flower of Grass), and were from the wagashi shopTsuruya Yoshinobu.

PHOTO AT RIGHT: The temaeza at the Chadö Kenshü Kaikan usucha venue hosted by the Shikukai study group. Kettle: Old Unryu (cast design of dragon amid clouds) cylindrical type made by Yojirö, who is known to have made kettles for Rikyü. Bra-zier: bronze, made by NAGOSHI Jômi, a kettlesmith who was active in Kyoto around Rikyü's time. Water vessel: river and cherry blossoms motif Higashiyama ware blue-and-white porcelain. Tea caddy: Ikkanbari style lacquer ware natsume with willow motif makie, favored by Urasenke X Nintokusai (1770-1826). Tea scoop: carved by Urasenke X Nintokusai and named "Nyoi" (Scepter/As Desired). Tea bowl: Black Raku ware made by Raku VI Sanyü (1685-1739) and named "Kokon" (From the Ancient Past to the Present).

Main entrance gate to the Omotesenke compound.

Enjoing tea together after the succession ceremony.

This year, 2018, on February 28, which is the month and day of the passing of SEN Rikyü ac-

cording to the modern calendar, Yüyüsai ( îil̂ -f?ïsf -' b. 1970) succeeded his father, Jimyösai, as lemoto of Omotesenke in a solemn ceremony conducted at Omotesenke Fushin'an, and became SEN Sösa XV. Chief Priest ONOZAWA Kodô of Daitokuji Juköin, the family temple of the three Sen families, presided at the ceremony. The witnesses included Urasen-ke's lemoto Zabösai SEN Sôshitsu XVI and Musha-köjisenke's lemoto Futetsusai SEN Söshu XIV. In the above photo taken after the ceremony, we see (L to R) Yüyüsai, Jimyösai, Chief Priest Onozawa, Zabösai, and Futetsusai.

With his son's succession, Jimyösai has assumed the name Sôtan as his after retirement name.

Photos courtesy of Fushin'an

That evening, Daisöshö hosted a dinner party at the ANA Hotel for the thirty-seven who had come from overseas groups for the memorial, inviting also the current Midorikai students.

Urasenke Newsletter no. 141 3

Konnichian Spring Chakai

Beginning from this year, 2018, an invitational chakai is to be hosted twice a year by the Urasenke Head Family,

once in the spring and once in the autumn, at the family's homestead, Konnichian. It is for Urasenke chadö followers who, in that they have only recently, wi th in the past three years, at ta ined the ranking of Kyôju (full instructor) , are not among those on the invitat ion list for the New Year's Hatsugama-shiki, and it is intended to encourage their en-thusiasm as fol lowers and instructors of Urasenke chadö. On April 12, 2018, it was held for the first t ime, wi th the in-vitees being such Urasenke Kyôju based in eastern Japan. There were 230 who participated.

The chakai, divided into two seatings, consisted in a koi-cha venue with in the Chöfu-no-ma in the Heisei Chashitsu, headed by lemoto Zabösai, together wi th his wife and their nephews, IZUMI Köichirö and IZUMI Reijirö; a tenshin ( l ight meal) venue within the Kangetsu-no-ma; and an usucha ven-ue within the large room upstairs in the Chadö Kaikan. The now restored Hösensai in the historical Konnichian tea room complex was arranged into a chadôgu (chadö implements) exhibit ion space.

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Events at Birthplace of Gengensai

Urasenke's 11th-generat ion iemoto, Gengensai Seichü Söshitsu (1810-

77), is somet imes called the father of /^ijt~\ modern chadö, for the fact that he suc- /Â \ cessfully attempted bold steps to ensure ÊÊ )\ the survival and in tegr i ty of chadö in jÊ^^k post-Meiji Restoration Japan. This prom- " ^ ( ~4g inent f igure in the history of Urasenke \ was a son of the minor daimyö, MATSU- Portrait of Gengensai. DAIRA Noritomo, 7th head of the Mikawa Bv MITAMURA Söryü _ , , _ . , . , , , , (identity uncertain). Okutono (Okudono) branch of the im- inscription by MAKI-portant Ogyü Matsudaira family, one of MURA SöJU (d. 1891), the or ig inal Matsudaira lineages f rom the 471st chief abbot

i • , i , i T- • , , of Daitokuji. which evolved theTokugawa shogunal family. Gengensai, whose childhood name was Chiyomatsu, became the adopted heir of the 10th Urasenke iemoto, Nintokusai Hakusö Söshitsu (1770-1826), at age nine, and succeeded as Urasenke iemoto at age sixteen, upon Nin-tokusai's death. From the 28th day of the 9th month, 1839, into the fo l lowing year, when Gengensai wou ld still have been only twenty-n ine years o ld, he, as the eldest of the three Sen families' iemoto at the time, took charge of hold-ing a series of chaji for the 250th memorial for SEN Rikyü. His preparations for this included extensive construction work on the Urasenke complex. He had an entrance gate—the Kabutomon—buil t , and expanded the house to include an eight-tatami room named Totsutotsusai, an anteroom to it having an unusually large ro {dairo), and a large s/io/n-style reception room named Hösensai.

The present Oku tono Jin'ya (headquarters of the Mi -kawa Okutono domain) in Okazaki city, Aichi prefecture, opened in 1985, and is located at the site of the original Okutono Jin'ya founded in 1711. Among its attractions are displays introducing some of the famous members of the

clan, including Gengensai. In the garden is the mausoleum of the past clan heads, and a large stone w i th plaque in r; the handwri t ing of Daisöshö stating that this was the birth place of Gengensai

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^~ The morning of March 25, 2018, Daisöshö, together wi th

his grandson, IZUMI Köichirö, conducted a tea dedication at the Okutono Jin'ya; the first t ime for any of his family or fore-bears to do so. The approximately 150 attendees included TOKUGAWA Yoshitaka, who is the 22nd head of the OwariToku-gawa family; OGYü Noritatsu, the 14th head of the Okutono Tatsuoka Matsudaira family; IGI Yasumichi (Advisor, Urasenke Tankökai Okayama chapter), . . . continued on p. 5


Events at Birthplace of Gengensai, cont'd. Gesshinji Temple Memorial Chakai for Sensö

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. . . the 20th head of the Igi family who were chief elders of the Okayama Ikeda family, wi th his wife; and many officials and others of the regional Urasenke Tankökai organiza-t ion. A tenchaban tea-making table had been arranged in the shoin room, and Daisöshö sat at this and prepared two bowls of koicha; one which was placed before the mauso-leum of the Mikawa Okutono clan heads, and the other, before the Gengensai memorial stone.

The Tankökai Mikawa chapter hosted ryûre/'-style tea serv-ice in a tented area on the grounds. When the above-men-t ioned special attendees came here, Daisöshö personally sat at the triangular Washindana tea-making furniture set, prepared tea, and served it to them.

he 4 th genera t ion in the Urasen-ke fami ly l ine, and the first to use

the name Söshitsu which has been the hereditary name carried by the genera-t i ons of Urasenke i e m o t o since h i m , was Sensö (1622-97), the youngest of SEN Sôtan's four sons. Sötan found an o f f i c ia l p o s i t i o n for Sensö as chadö minister in the service of the lord of the

The stile in front of Kaga domain (present-day Ishikawa pre-Gesshinji relates that fecture). Sensö was around th i r ty years this temple is con- | d h . a n d h e c o n s e q u e n t | y nected to SEN Senso. ' , ~ '

spent most of the rest of his life in Kaga. His t omb is located at the Sötö Zen sect temple Gesshinji (estb. 1650) in the city of Kanazawa, and there is a memorial service and chakai held here monthly on the 23rd, the day of his death. A group of Kanazawa chadö practitioners called the Ryümeikai, many of w h o m are art dealers and chadö professionals, is in charge of this monthly chakai.

On April 22 and 23, 2018, there was a Ryümeikai Chakai at Gesshinji, and Konnichian, represented by lemoto Zabö-sai, his nephew IZUMI Reijirö, and his cousin OTANI Hiromi, hosted the koicha venue, incorporating many implements related to Sensö. The guests included Ryümeikai members, Tankökai Hokuriku Region officials and members, and Ura-senke patrons belonging to the Kanazawa Konnichikai.

Fol lowing this, the scene moved to the Foresta Hotel in nearby Toyota City. Here, Daisöshö presented a lecture entit led "Thanks To Our Honorable Ancestors." An audience of over six hundred came to hear this. They could also en-joy both koicha and usucha at the two venues which were set up for these, hosted by the Tankökai Mikawa chapter.

- A m o n g the many impress ive imp lements wh ich were used, the main chawan at the koicha venue was a black Seto ware bowl handmade by Gengensai and named "Iwane"(Rooted [Big] Boulder). y*

ABOVE L: The tea scoop that was used, and its storage tube, both made by Sensö. Sensö inscribed the tube with the tea scoop's name, "Samidare" (May Shower), and his signature "Söshitsu" and too (stylized mark), ABOVE R: Close-up of the implements at the temaeza. Kettle: Shioya (saltmaker's hut) style designed by Sensö and made by Miyazaki Kanchi I (16337-1712), a local kettlesmith who won acclaim through Sense's patronage. In the alcove of the waiting room this day (no photo), there hung Sensö's letter addressed to Kanchi, requesting Kanchi to make a kettle like the one he drew a sketch of in the letter. Water vessel: Candy glaze with spiral incised design, charac-teristic of the ware created at the Öhi kiln founded in Kanazawa by a Raku ware potter named Chôzaemon, who Sensö brought to Kanazawa from Kyoto. Tea caddy (in a dark blue pouch): Black eggplant-shaped (nasu) jar with name "Senjin" (Wizard) written on it and signed by Rikkansai Söshitsu VI (1694-1726). Tea bowl: Red Raku named "Osozakura" (Late Cherry-blos-soms) with incription and too on it indicating that it was favored by Sensö. Among the Konnichian collection's meibutsu (prized chadö implements). The hanging in the main alcove featured a zen phrase written by Sötan.


Daisöshö in China for 40th Anniversary of China-Japan Peace and Friendship Treaty

Friendship Chakai in Beijing

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April 16-18, 2018, Daisöshö visited Beijing by invitation of the China-Japan Friendship Association (CJFA), for a China-Japan Friendship Chakai commemora t ing the 40th anni-versary of the China-Japan Peace and Friendship Treaty.

His 3h15m f l ight from Japan brought him into Beijing at noon on April 16. The Chakai was the next day, at the com-pound of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship wi th Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), where the CJFA has quar-ters. Arriving there, Daisöshö met wi th CJFA President TANG Jiaxuan and prepared a bowl of matcha for him in a bon-ryaku style of tea-making. (See above right photo) Members of Daisöshö's Urasenke entourage brought bowls of matcha in to the others who were at this meeting. Everyone then moved to the auditor ium, where Daisöshö would conduct a kencha-shiki.

Vice President SONG Jingwu of the CPAFFC delivered an opening address for the kencha-shiki, impressing upon the attendees the significance of this tea dedication ceremony. Daisöshö sat at the tenchaban tea-making table which had been arranged on the stage, solemnly prepared a bowl of matcha, and placed it on the offering table which stood before a hanging scroll bearing cal l igraphy by Daisöshö which read '\': | | | '{-)]• >§£ (Peace Prayer). To its sides were the flags of Japan and China. At the end, Daisöshö addressed the attendees, saying that he prays that China and Japan might overcome their various issues and together contr ib-

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-ute towards a splendid wor ld. Minister SHIKATA Noriyuki of the Embassy of Japan in China made a speech, saying that he held hopes that this day's Chakai wou ld help deepen China and Japan's understanding of their mutual cul ture and strengthen their appreciation of their bonds. Liu Deyou, China's former Vice Minister of Culture, delivered a short talk entitled "Tea: Bonding Chinese and Japanese Culture."

Afterwards, outdoors by the Peace Bell, members of the Tankökai Beijing Dökökai conducted temae at a Misonodana, and as Daisöshö provided explanations, they served okashi and matcha to the approximately one hundred guests who had been invited to this China-Japan Friendship Chakai.

Events in Shanghai

Daisöshö made another t r ip to China, this t ime to Shang-hai, May 13-17. Here, in commemorat ion of the 40th an-niversary of the China-Japan Peace and Friendship Treaty,

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there were three main events on his schedule. The first was a kencha-shiki on May 14 at Shanghai's famous Yufosi, the Jade Buddha Temple. A short video of this may be viewed on the temple's websi te at h t tps : / /mp.we ix in .qq .eom/s / 0TepGf22kJGcDsaMAhLRFQ. In a corner of the temple's cour tyard , members of the Tankökai Shanghai Dökökai and o ther Urasenke groups in China prepared tea at a Misonodana, for temple visitors. Daisöshö enjoyed exchang-ing ideas w i th Abbot JUE Xing and tour ing the temple's impressive museum and other facilities.

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That evening, the Tankökai Shanghai Dökökai hosted a reception for Daisöshö at the Okura Garden Hotel Shanghai. Among the guests were Consul-General KATAYAMA Kazuyuki and wife, from the Consulate General of Japan in Shanghai.

The second main event for Daisöshö was a kencha-shiki and peace-sharing chakai {wagö-no-chakai) program at the

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i IS official residence of Consul-General Katayama the afternoon of May 15. There were approx imate ly forty part ic ipants, including Vice President JING Ying of the Shanghai People's Association for Friendship w i th Foreign Countries, Yufosi Abbot JUE Xing, and Professor YAO Xinhong, who heads the Japanese Language Institute at Shanghai Jiao Tong Univer-sity. Together with Consul-General Katayama and Mrs. Kata-yama (in the first and last seats in the photo above), they were the attendees who shared the bowl of peace-sharing koicha pre-pared by Daisöshö for the wagö-no-chakai which fol lowed the kencha-shiki tea dedication. Afterwards, all the other at-tendees were served usucha by members of Daisöshö's Ura-senke entourage, continued on p. 7


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Daisöshö Visits Paris

H P h e year 2018 marks both

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the 160th anniversary of the establishment of diploma-tic relations between France and Japan, and the 60th year of the fr iendship covenant between Paris and Kyoto. Amid this, Daisöshö was in Paris from June 27 to July 1, for two main chadö-related events. Reaching Paris in the late afternoon of June 27, the first event was in the afternoon of June 28, and consisted in a tea dedication ceremony hosted by Japan's ambas-sador to France, KITERA Masato, at the ambassador's of-ficial residence. The thirty-six participants were invitees of Ambassador and Mrs. Kitera, and included Secretary-General Maurice GOURDAULT-MONTAGNE of the French Min-istry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, who Daisöshö knew from the days when M. Gourdault-Montagne was the French ambassador to Japan. Another of the guests was Urasenke Tankökai Paris Assn. President-Elect Louis SCHWEITZER, who is Special Representative of the French Foreign Minister for French-Japanese Partnership.The event began with a greet-ing by Ambassador Kitera. Then Daisöshö prepared the spe-cial tea and placed it on the offering table, as a dedication honoring the friendship between France and Japan and also praying for global peace. After that, he gave a speech, in

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continuation from p. 6 The third main event on Daisöshö's schedule was a talk

and chadö demonstration program at Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Japanese Language Institute the afternoon of May 16. This program attracted an audience of approxi-mately eight hundred people, including teachers and stu-dents at the university, and others interested in learning about Japan's chadö culture. Preceding the program, they

which he explained that the kanji ft on the front wall was both the "wa" in "heiwa," meaning "peace," as well as the word "nagoyaka" meaning "harmonious." He urged that, as it was the 160th France-Japan friendship year, the two countries should join hands and strive to enable all nations to live in peace and harmony. After his speech, all the guests were served sweets and usucha.

On June 30, Daisöshö, at his hotel, received a visit from the President of the Hauts-de-Seine General Council, Pat-rick DEVEDJIAN. The Albert Kahn Museum and Garden, where stands the Seifüan (Green Maples Abode) tea house do-nated by Daisöshö (then lemoto) in 1966 and restored last year, belongs to the Hauts-de-Seine suburb district of Paris. The President, who expressed profound interest in Japan's chadö, presented Daisöshö with a médaille from the council.

The second main event for Daisöshö was that afternoon; his lecture entitled "The Spirit of Tea" at the Guimet Na-tional Museum of Asian Arts, by invitation of the Museum. In the lecture, he explained how Japan's chadö took shape through influences not only from east asian cultures but also from Europe, and that its appeal is not limited to peo-ple from East or West. A small tea bowl holds lessons about mutual consideration and service to others, and if people could learn these, the strife in the world would abate, and

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could drop by the tea service area for a bowl of usucha served by members of Urasenke's various official groups in China. The program lasted an hour and a half, and as Daisöshö walked down the aisle to leave the auditorium when it was finished, he received a roaring ovation. J*

that was the word he was trying to spread through his world travels, he said. The audience appeared inspired by the lecture. Afterwards, they could enjoy tea service in the courtyard in front of the tea house at the museum. The tea house interior was also arranged by Daisöshö's gyöteibu assistants, to enable the guests to experience a finely pre-pared chadö atmosphere.


Midorikai Alumni Gather at Konnichian for Intensive Study

Fifty-three Midor ika i a lumn i f rom t w e n t y d i f ferent countries, representing students f rom the early 70s to the present t ime, took part in a special intensive

study program in Kyoto f rom June 26 to July 30, 2018. It was the first t ime that such a major, organized group of Midorikai alumni ever gathered at the home of Urasenke, where they had once studied as Midor ikai students. The idea for it sprouted in 2010, at the reunion and celebra-t ion held in Honolulu, Hawaii, for the 40th anniversary of the found ing of Midor ikai . At that t ime, the part ic ipants expressed their desire to gather in Kyoto to deepen their studies and to reconnect wi th classmates and other alumni f rom around the wor ld.

The day before the start of the study program, forty-four of the participants visited Juköin temple, Daitokuji, to pay their respects at the t omb of SEN Rikyü. Besides going to the cemetery, they also enjoyed receiving a detailed expla-nation of the main temple bui lding and tea rooms.

The morning of June 26, the fifty-three member contin-gent convened in the Chöfü-no-ma of the Heisei Chashitsu at Konnichian for the opening ceremony. Daisöshö popped in for the first few minutes. In his welcome speech, he ex-pressed his joy at seeing everyone, and said that his late wife, Tomiko, wou ld be as happy as he is that each of them was keeping active in chadö. He encouraged them to "soak up the real aroma of tea" dur ing thei r next few days in

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fi Kyoto, and he also generously presented the Urasenke Mi-dorikai Alumni Association (UMAA) wi th a donat ion, which Karl FOOKS (Midorikai 1979.09-1980.07 & 1981.04-.07), as vice president of the UMAA, accepted on behalf of the as-sociat ion. Before leaving, Daisöshö greeted each of the part ic ipants indiv idual ly. After this, the five Konnichian gyötei teachers who would be providing instruction — (see lower photo above) SUMI Sökö, YAMAMOTO Söchi, FUSHIDA Sökei, IZUMIMOTO Sögen, and SUZUKI Sökei — were in t roduced, and finally Thomas BREITER (Midorikai 2000-01 & 2003-04, Germany) represented all of the participants in expressing appreciation for the unprecedented study opportuni ty.

The first day of study began w i th warigeiko under the guidance of the head gyötei for this seminar, gyötei Sumi.

After this, the participants divided into five groups, which went to different rooms to receive temae instruction under the five gyötei, and to also review the procedures for being a guest. The lessons ended prompt ly at 3:30, after which there was a brief closing ceremony in the Chöfü-no-ma.

The participants then swiftly moved to the ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel, located across f rom Nijo Palace, to attend an early evening welcome banquet hosted by Daisöshö. Join-ing the alumni were the gyötei who were in charge of this t ime's seminar, Midor ikai - re lated Urasenke Gakuen and Tankökai staff, and all the current students of the Midorikai. As soon as Daisöshö arrived, everyone gathered around h im for a commemorat ive group photo. (Facing page, top) The MC for the evening was Midorikai alumni Mike HARDY (2012-13, USA), who now is a staff member of the Tankökai International Affairs Department . A h ighl ight of the eve-ning was a surprise raffle wi th prizes provided by Daisöshö, and Daisöshö doing the drawing. The prizes included two tea bowls — one, an Akane-gama work, and the other, an Asahi-yaki work; an incense container made by Öhi Chözae-mon X (Töyasai); five shikishi wr i t ten by Daisöshö; and, as the grand prize, a scroll wr i t ten by Daisöshö.

The next day, June 27, the tea room study focused most-ly on the shichijishiki group training exercises. The partici-pants again divided into five groups, which was done each day according to a carefully organized schedule so that they could receive instruction f rom as many of the gyötei as possible. At the closing ceremony, gyötei Yamamoto, repre-senting the instructors, presented the final remarks, saying that he hoped the participants would take back what they learned and share it w i th their tea friends and colleagues. Stella Li (2010-11, China) represented the participants in expressing their appreciat ion to the five gyötei, who had been very generous in their manner of teaching.

lemoto Zabösai presented a special 80 min. lecture to the participants the morning of June 28, in the lecture room of the Urasenke Gakuen. The International Affairs Depart-ment had equipment readied for this, to provide simultane-

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ous English translation. The lecture moved across a number of thought-provoking themes, the main underlying theme being that we must always think of the basics and approach them diligently and studiously. This lecture ended the study program at Konnichian, but in the afternoon, the same room was utilized to hold a UMAA planning meeting, attended by all the participants as well as the present Midorikai students and chaired by UMAA vice president Karl FOOKS and UMAA treasurer Christy BARTLETT (Midorikai + Gakuen,1973-79). The UMAA had invited lemoto's daughter, SAKATA Makiko, to attend this and present an opening speech, which she graciously did.


Midorikai Alumni Gather at Konnichian, cont'd.

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The schedule for the next two days comprised optional study opportunities which the organizers of this entire pro-gram in Kyoto had arranged. On Friday, June 29, a group of seventeen went to the Katsuragama pottery studio and tried making Raku-style tea bowls under the guidance of the head of the kiln, HIGAKI Seishi, and her son, Ryöta, who is an Urasenke Gakuen graduate. A group of eighteen vis-ited Ippödö, a producer of matcha, to learn about koicha production and the packing of the chatsubo tea jar. They also took part in a tea tasting to determine three varieties of koicha. A group of nineteen went to Suetomi, a producer of chanoyu sweets, to learn how to make an (sweetened pureed beans) and to color and shape different types of sweets. Usucha was served in the shop's tea room with the sweets that the participants had made.

On Saturday, June 30, RAKU Kichizaemon, the head of the Raku kiln, hosted forty-eight of the alumni in three seatings at a tea gathering which featured pieces made by the gen-

erations of his family. A group of fifteen went to Yamada-matsu, an incense-wood shop, for a Genjikö workshop, involving the monko (incense appreciation) activity of heat-ing several varieties of incense wood one at a time, testing their fragrance, and attempting to recognize them.

The UMAA members are ever so grateful for the unstint-ing support and generosity that Daisöshö has shown them and the Midorikai program over the years. They also thank all of the teachers who have taught the Midorikai over the forty-eight years of its history, and whose teaching has enabled them to go out into the world to practice and to share chanoyu. Those who were able to participate in this historic meeting are truly grateful to all those who worked to bring it to life. It was an unforgettable experience with many new discoveries and opportunities to become recon-nected to the wide world of chadö.

Bruce Sösei HAMANA Midorikai + Gakuen 1980-85

Midorikai and Gakuen Comings & Goings

The Urasenke Gakuen Professional College of Chadô's 2017-18 school year ended on March 16, 2018, and twenty-eight of its students finished their respective courses of study. Eight had come from places outside Japan.They were as fol-lows: Seiya Alan HIROMOTO (USA) (front row, 2nd from left), who, with his nine classmates, completed the Gakuen's 3-year Chadö Course to become the school's 54th graduating class; Li Dan (China) (rear row, 2nd from left), who was among the eight in the 1-year course; Keijiroh YAMAGUCHI (USA) (middle row, 2nd from right) and CHEN Pei-Chin (Taiwan) (middle row, 5th from right) of the six in the 6-month course; and (middle row, 1st to 4th from left, respectively) Malena HIGASHI (Argentina), Katja PLAVC (Slovenia), Sheri KOMORI (Hawaii), and Hua-ya Freddy CHIN (Taiwan) of the Midorikai program. At the grad-uation ceremony, they received their graduation or course

complet ion certificates directly I from Gakuen Chairman and Prin-

cipal, lemoto Zabösai. Afterwards, they sat for this commemorative group photograph with lemoto Zabösai and Madam SEN Masako, the Gakuen's Vice Chairman and Vice Principal.

Spring break began the next day, but most all those who had finished

their studies or were on break were present in Kyoto for the Rikyü Memorial at Konnichian on March 28. Soon thereaf-ter, the newly incoming students began arriving in Kyoto, in time for the opening of the new school year on April 6. Those entering the Midorikai program were Kikuko SINGER of the Tankökai Austria Assn.; Kim Yu LEE of the Tankökai Mel-bourne Assn., Australia; Elizabeth Ann DENG of the Tankökai San Francisco Assn., USA; and Olesya Olegovna MAKAROVA of the Tankökai Moscow Assn., Russia.

Since the beginning of 2018, a number of Urasenke followers from abroad have come for short-term study with the Midori-kai students at the Gakuen, as follows: Jan 18 Robert BATES (Urasenke San Francisco Branch) / May 14-25 Gabriel CACIULA and Cristina COMANAC (Tankökai Romania Luminis Assn.) / May 28 Valderson Silverio SOUZA (Tankökai Brazil Assn.).


Urasenke Center Galleries

2018 Special Spring Exhibition M u s h i a g e W a r e

— Kyoto-born Ceramics which Blossomed in Okayama

Mushiage is a famously scenic place along the Inland Sea in Okayama

prefecture, and is where the Igi family, who were chief among the senior re-tainers of the Okayama domain, was headquartered and founded Mushiage ware ceramics. This ware, reputed as the neatest of Japan's ceramics, began to be produced around the first year of the Bunsei era, 1818.

IGI San'ensai (Tadazumi, 1818-86) be-came the 14th head of the Igi family in 1833, during the turbulent period of transition leading from the late days of the Tokugawa shogunal govenment into the Meiji period. Although San'en-sai thus was busy in the political arena, he was a votary of chanoyu and not only collected chanoyu implements but also invited the Kyoto-ware potters Seifü Yo-hei I and Makuzu (Miyakawa) Közan to the Mushiage ware kiln to enable him to create implements according to his personal taste. That taste of his, com-bined with the Kyoto-ware potters'style, resulted in chanoyu implements having a unique ambience while also strongly retaining the Kyoto-ware influence.

San'ensai originally learned the Haya-mi style of chanoyu, whose founder, HAYAMI Sötatsu (1739-1809) of Kyoto, had trained under the 8th Urasenke iemoto, Yûgensai (1719-71 ). Later, San'-ensai began training under the 11 th Ura-senke iemoto, Gengensai (1810-77), and they developed a deep friendship. Behind the development of the superb Mushiage ware chanoyu implements lay this tie between San'ensai and Gen-gensai, and many extant works call to mind their relationship.

2018 marks the bicentennial of the birth of San'ensai. This exhibition, joint-ly hosted by the Chadö Research Cen-ter, Okayama Prefecture Education Committee, and Okayama Prefectural Museum, focused on Mushiage ware ceramic chanoyu implements produced from the late Tokugawa to early Meiji periods. The exhibition showed first in Okayama, and then, March 23-May 27, at the Chadö Research Center (Urasenke Center) galleries, Kyoto. It introduced how Kyoto culture flowered in Okaya-ma, by showing examples of Mushiage ware ceramics, which represent the quintessence of that flowering, and the Kyoto ware which were their models.

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h H Mushiage ware cracked ice design tea bowl named "Kimi-ga-yo" (The Reign of the Emperor). Height, 7.0 cm: mouth diam., 10.3 x 10.6 cm; foot diam., 4.7cm. Private collection.

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The exhibition poster. Featured on it is a Mushi-age ware mizusashi of shape resembling a boat-man wearing a straw hat. Entire height: 22.1 cm; base diam., 10.7 cm. Private collection.

Mushiage ware plummeting goose design mlzu-sashi made by Makuzu Közan. Height: 22.1 cm; mouth outer diam., 11.7 cm; base diam., 6.5 cm. Private collection.

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H Mushiage ware sometsuke well-bucket shaped mizusashi made by Seifü Yohei I. Height, 19.6 cm; mouth outer diam., 18.1 x 13.6 cm; base diam., 10.8 cm. Nozaki Museum of Salt Production col-lection.

Mushiage ware sabie snowy bamboo design handled bowl. Height, 18.8 cm; width, 23.4 x 19.3 cm.Tokyo National Museum collection. lmage:TNM [mage Archives.

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