Daisosho SEN Genshitsu, who serves as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, was in Paris November 12-15, 2015, to present a tea offering ceremony (kenchashiki) as a part of the celebrations this year of the 70th anniversary of UNESCO--the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. This event took place at UNESCO Headquarters on November 13, under the auspices of the UNESCO Secretariat and the Permanent Delegation of Japan to UNESCO.
The special tea ceremony event was from one o'clock in the afternoon, and approximately one hundred people attended, including UNESCO Director-General Irina BOKOVA. She delivered a welcoming address, in which she spoke highly of Daisosho Sen's peace activities and chado. After her, Ambassador Kuni SATO of Japan's permanent delegation to UNESCO delivered a welcoming address, in which she too commended Daisosho Sen's contributions to peace among people through chado.
A tea-making table (tenchaban) and stool for Daisosho Sen to sit on when conducting the procedure to prepare the tea offering had been arranged in the room. Daisosho took his place there and, with graceful and deliberate movements, prepared a bowl of tea, which he placed on the offering table.
|
