From March 24 to 31, 2026, at the invitation of the Embassy of Japan in India, Gyōtei SHIMURA Sōkō and others from Konnichian were dispatched to Bhutan and India to participate in events celebrating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Bhutan.

The event that was central to this was the Japanese Emperor’s Birthday Celebration Reception on March 27, at which the team from Konnichian would present an introduction to Japan’s chadō culture. The preceding day, Thursday the 26th, His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of the Kingdom of Bhutan received H.E. ONO Keiichi, Ambassador of Japan to India and Bhutan, at Bhutan’s Pangri Zampa Monastery, and at this time, Gyōtei Shimura prepared a bowl of koicha (thick tea) for His Majesty.

During the day on the 27th, Gyōtei Shimura presented a chadō lecture and demonstration program at the Royal University of Bhutan (RUB). In addition to Director General Natsho Dorji of the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development at the Bhutan Ministry of Home Affairs, who was the guest of honor, approximately 150 people attended, including university staff, students, and Japanese language learners. Following the lecture and demonstration, usucha (thin tea) was served to some of the attendees, enabling them to actually get a taste of chanoyu in Bhutan.

That evening, the Japanese Emperor’s Birthday Celebration Reception was held at the Terma Linca Resort & Spa in Thimphu. This was the first time for it to take place in Bhutan, and it served as a significant occasion to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Bhutan. Among the more than 200 guests, there were five members of the Royal Family. They were Her Majesty Queen Mother Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, the consort of His Majesty the Fourth King, along with Her Royal Highness Princess Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck, Her Royal Highness Princess Sonam Dechan Wangchuck, Her Royal Highness Princess Kesang Chodren Wangchuck, and His Royal Highness Prince Ugyen Jigme Wangchuck. Following the reception program, those five members of the Royal Family, as well as Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay of the Royal Government of Bhutan, were each served a bowl of tea prepared by Gyōtei Shimura.

On Sunday the 29th, at the Official Residence of Ambassador ONO in Delhi, Gyōtei Shimura presented an introduction to chadō. Approximately 60 people attended, including representatives from Indian cultural organizations, Japan-India friendship groups, Japanese language education institutions, and the media, and all participants were served usucha (thin tea). Then the next day, March 30, Gyōtei Shimura and his team had the opportunity to serve tea to a number of luminaries in the chashitsu (tea room) at the ambassador’s official residence. Thus, all-in-all, Gyōtei Shimura and his team were able to provide a chance for individuals both in Bhutan and India to deepen their understanding of chadō and Japanese culture.

In February 2011, Her Royal Highness Princess Ashi Kesang Chodren Wangchuck of Bhutan, together with entourage, visited Konnichian for tea. In November of the same year, during the state visit to Japan of Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Namgyel Wangchuck, Their Royal Majesties were served tea at the Kyoto State Guest House by Iemoto’s wife, Mme. SEN Masako, together with Mme. SAKATA Makiko and Mr. IZUMI Sōyō. Furthermore, in October 2017, Her Royal Highness Princess Sonam Dechen Wangchuck visited Konnichian and was entertained with tea by Master Hōunsai and Wakasōshō Tanshinsai.