At the opening of the G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting that took place June 26-27, 2008, at the Kyoto State Guest House, and that would lay the groundwork for the Hokkaido Toyako G8 Summit, the ministers received a ceremonial welcome by Iemoto Zabosai SEN Soshitsu XVI and his wife, SEN Masako, in the form of a tea gathering held in the early evening of June 26, in the Juraku Room at the Kyoto State Guest House. Foreign Minister KOUMURA Masahiko of the hosting nation, Japan, led the ministers to the Juraku Room, and sat in the first seat. In the alcove of the room, there hung a scroll of calligraphy that read "Zuii " (lit., "discretion"), written by the 11th generation Urasenke iemoto, Gengensai. Iemoto Zabosai sat at a Misonodana tea-making table and prepared the tea for the guests, while Mrs. Sen sat close by and served as his assistant. The ministers who participated in this Japanese-style welcoming event were Condoleezza RICE from the USA, David MILIBAND from the UK, David EMERSON from Canada, Bernard KOUCHNER from France, Frank-Walter STEINMEIER from Germany, Franco FRATTINI from Italy, Andrei DENISOV from Russia, Dimitrij RUPEL from Slovania (EU Presidency), EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier SOLANA, and EU External Affairs Commissioner Benita FERRERO-WALDNER. The press center for the Kyoto G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting was located at the Kyoto International Conference Hall, and on June 27, Urasenke hosted a chanoyu introduction program at this location, for members of the Japanese and foreign press who placed a reservation.
|
