SEN Genshitsu Welcomes Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, to Japan

February 26, 2015, Tokyo At the request of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Daisosho SEN Genshitsu welcomed Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, on the Prince's first visit to Japan, with a bowl of tea. The tea room in Tokyo's Hama Rikyu Gardens was the venue, and on display was a "Wa Kei Sei Jaku" scroll written by Gengensai, 11th generation head of Urasenke. Daisosho served tea to Prince William using a tea-making table (tenchaban) also designed by Gengensai. The Hama Rikyu Gardens was Prince William's first stop after arriving at Haneda Airport. He was accompanied by Tokyo Governor MASUZOE Yoichi. The two entered the tea room, and as they enjoyed the sweets and matcha tea, Daisosho explained about the items which had been arranged for Prince William's visit, and about the spirit of chado.

Daisosho also showed the Prince photos of occasions in the past when he had the pleasure of serving tea to other members of the British royal family, including the occasion in 1975 when the royal guests were Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh at Katsura Rikyu in Kyoto, the visit of Prince Charles and Princess Diana to Nijo Castle, Kyoto, in 1986, and the visit of Prince Edward to Urasenke Konnichian in 1996. Prince William was pleased that three generations of his family shared a similar cultural exchange, all with Daisosho, on their respective visits to Japan.

Commemorative photo with (from left to right) TAKASHIMA Naoki, Daisosho, Prince William, and MASUZOE Yoichi

Other guests in attendance were: TAKASHIMA Naoki, Speaker of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, Sir David MANNING, Special Advisor to the Duke of Cambridge, FUJII Hajime, Vice Speaker of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, Ambassador Tim HITCHENS, British Embassy in Tokyo, and Ambassador HAYASHI Keiichi, Embassy of Japan in the UK.

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