The Seichū-Ennō-Mugen Memorial, which is one of the three major annual memorial observances at the Urasenke Head House, was held on July 5 (Fri), 2024, and was attended by approximately 180 Urasenke followers.

　The 11^th generation in the Urasenke line, Gengensai Seichū Koji (1810–77), added the Totsutotsusai, Hōsensai, and other tea rooms to the Head House’s compound, and invented the ryūrei style (tenchaban tea-making table, and specially designed stools for seating), chabako-date (tea-making utilizing boxed set of implements), and other such chanoyu styles.  He set forth a Way of Tea for the new era. His grandson, the 13^th generation in the line, Ennōsai Tetchū Koji (1872–1924), poured energy into integrating chadō into school education, which laid the foundation for today’s Gakkō Chadō program. Also, he was ahead of his time by inventing such things as the kakufuku-date (individual servings of koicha, thick tea) tea-making procedure at the end of the Meiji era. Next, the 14^th generation in the line, Mugensai Sekisō Koji (1893–1964), formed the Tankōkai organization in 1940, with the goal of developing the Urasenke chadō tradition and standardizing its tea-making procedures, and in 1949 he established the Urasenke Foundation.

　At 9:00 A.M., in the Chōfū-no-ma within the Heisei Chashitsu, Daisōshō SEN Genshitsu gave a few words to open the ceremony, and Iemoto SEN Sōshitsu then solemnly conducted the chatō-no-gi ceremonial preparation of the tea offering. As Daisōshō intoned the Buddhist “Four Great Vows” (Shiguseigan), Wakasōshō SEN Sōshi placed the bowl of tea before the portrait of Gengensai Koji hanging in the alcove, and everyone quietly put their palms together in memory of the masters’ legacies.

　Next, Iemoto prepared koicha using the kakufuku-date method, and Wakasōshō conveyed the koicha to the representative attendees, who were as follows: SHIMAMURA Hirofumi (Tankōkai Assistant Councilor, Osaka West Chapter Vice President), and, from among the Meiyo Shihan (Distinguished Masters) in attendance this day, HONMA Sōju (Tankōkai Kyoto South Chapter Counselor), ŌSHIMA Sōsui (Tankōkai Ishikawa Chapter Counselor), TADA Sōshun (Tankōkai Assistant Councilor, Chikuhō Chapter Counselor), AOYAMA Sōchi (Tankōkai Shizuoka Chapter Chief of Administration), and MASUI Sōei (Tankōkai Assistant Councilor, Kitakyūshū Chapter Vice Chief of Administration).

　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

Note: During these Shichijishiki group exercises, the method now is to not reuse the tea bowls but to employ a fresh one for each bowl of tea.

　In the Heisei Chashitsu’s Kangetsu-no-ma, the implements that were brought together for this occasion were on display.

　Auxiliary venues were arranged in the Chadō Kaikan and Urasenke Gakuen building. At the one in the Chadō Kaikan, Iemoto’s wife Madam SEN Masako, with Madam IZUMI Hiromi, provided the hospitality.