―In Memory of the Legacy of SEN Sōtan—

On November 19, 2025, the Sōtan Memorial, one of the three major memorial observances held annually at the Urasenke head house, took place. Approximately 300 Urasenke chadō followers from within and outside Japan took part.

Genpaku Sōtan (1578-1658), the Sen family’s third-generation ancestor, succeeded Rikyū and then Shōan in consummating wabi-cha, the Way of Tea based on the wabi spirit and aesthetic. He built the Konnichian and Yūin tea rooms, and in this and other ways, laid the foundation of the Urasenke head house.

The memorial observance commenced in the Chōfū-no-ma room within the Heisei Chashitsu at 9:00 A.M., with Iemoto SEN Sōshitsu solemnly conducting the chatō-no-gi tea-offering preparation. Wakasōshō SEN Sōshi placed the offering before the portrait of Sōtan hanging in the alcove, and all those in the room placed their palms together in silent remembrance of Sōtan’s legacy.

Next, Iemoto prepared koicha (thick tea) for the representative guests, and Wakasōshō conveyed it to them. They were SHIMOMURA Hirofumi (Tankōkai Assistant Councilor, Osaka West Chapter Vice President), and the following four among the distinguished Urasenke chadō masters (meiyo shihan) who were in attendance: HONMA Sōju (Tankōkai Kyoto South Chapter Counselor), UEMATSU Sōkei (Tankōkai Tokyo Chapter V East Counselor), NAKAYAMA Sōkō (Tankōkai Chiba Prefecture Chapter Counselor), and AOSHIMA Sōchi (Tankōkai Shizuoka Chapter Counselor).

From the Kanbayashi Shunshō family, Urasenke’s heirloom tea jar, which they had packed with the year’s shincha (tea from the first harvest in the spring), was delivered and placed in the Rikyū Ancestral Altar Hall as an offering.

Ochatsubo dōchū tea jar delivery procession

Meanwhile, in the Chōfū-no-ma, a ceremony was held to confer the esteemed meiyo shihan title onto twenty individuals who have shown deep dedication to the Way of Tea for a great many years.

After this, members of the Konnichian corps of deputy tea masters conducted Hanayose-no-shiki (a form of Shichijishiki group exercise involving flower arranging), and groups of Urasenke chadō practitioners who study directly under the Iemoto conducted other Shichijishiki group chanoyu exercises as offerings. 

Hanayose-no-shiki

Hirakagetsu-no-shiki (Sunday study group and Sumirekai group)

In the Chadō Kaikan, the implements that were brought together for this occasion were on display.

Auxiliary venues were arranged in the Heisei Chashitsu’s Kangetsu-no-ma and the Chadō Kaikan. At the one in the Kangetsu-no-ma, the confection served with the usucha (thin tea) was ginkgo-nut mochi, which is a confection connected with Sōtan.