On December 3, 2016, His Excellency Dr. Tony TAN Keng Yam, President of Singapore, accompanied by his wife, Mary TAN, came to Urasenke Konnichian for a chakai (tea gathering) hosted by Daisosho SEN Genshitsu. President Tan was on his first official state visit to Japan, organized in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Japan. This visit to Konnichian was personally requested by Dr. and Mrs. Tan, who had met Daisosho a few months earlier during the visit of Daisosho to Singapore to hold events commemorating the 50 year anniversary of Singapore-Japan relations. On that occasion, Daisosho provided tea service to President Tan, his wife, and other specially invited guests in the President's official residence.
Daisosho warmly welcomed the presidential couple upon their arrival at Konnichian, first personally providing an explanation of implements used within temae (tea-making procedures) that were on display for this visit, and of the process involved in making matcha tea. Dr. and Mrs. Tan were very interested in the explanation, and even tried using the stone mill set out for them to create a small amount of matcha. They then proceeded to the Chofu-no-ma room of the Heisei Chashitsu, where Daisosho conducted temae and made conversation.
|
