Embassy of Japan in India: Press Releases from the Embassy

As part of the ongoing ‘Japan-India Friendship Year’ celebrations, a special event is scheduled for the 12^th and 13^th of September 2007, in which a presentation of the Japanese Tea Ceremony would be made by the 15th Urasenke Grand Master Dr. Hounsai Genshitsu Sen of the renowned Urasenke Tea School of Japan. Urasenke Tea School is the oldest tea school founded by Sen Rikyu in the late 16^th century. In his first visit to India, Dr. Hounsai Genshitsu Sen would perform a Ritual Japanese Tea Ceremony at the Birla Temple, New Delhi, and a Lecture and Demonstration of the Japanese Tea Ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru University as well as the Residence of the Ambassador of Japan to India, as per details given below:

1	Wednesday, 12 September 2007: 2.30 p.m. Lecture and Demonstration of the Japanese Tea Ceremony at Auditorium - School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi Entry: Open to every one
2	Thursday, 13 September 2007: 10.00 a.m. Presentation of the Ritual Japanese Tea Ceremony at ‘Geeta Bhavan’, Birla Mandir, Mandir Marg, New Delhi Entry: For invited guests only
3	Thursday, 13 September 2007: 6.00 p.m. Lecture and Demonstration of the Japanese Tea Ceremony at Ambassador’s Residence, Embassy of Japan, 50-G, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi Entry: For invited guests only

Tea is known to people worldwide, but nowhere has it contributed as much to the cultural milieu as in Japan, where the preparation and drinking of tea, in a special form called Matcha (powdered green tea blended with hot water), became the basis for a profound spiritual and aesthetic discipline that has had a pervasive impact on Japanese civilization. The Urasenke Chado tradition has stood firmly by the principles of Harmony, Respect, Purity, and Tranquility for over four centuries since Sen Rikyu’s time.

Dr. Hounsai Genshitsu Sen, the father of current Urasenke Grand Master, Zabosai Soshitsu Sen XVI, was Urasenke Grand Master for 38 years (1964-2002) and is widely known as a global-minded promoter of the culture embraced by Chado and of world peace. He has traveled abroad on more than 250 occasions to spread the peaceful ideals represented in Chado. Since September, 2005, he has been serving as Japan-U.N. Goodwill Ambassador, a position he was appointed to by the Japanese Government.