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Thousands Honor Former Urasenke Grand Master Sen Genshitsu at Kyoto Farewell

The 15th-generation heir to Sen no Rikyu turned wartime special-attack survival into a lifelong mission of peace through tea.

Overview

  • A public farewell on November 27 at the National Kyoto International Conference Center Event Hall proceeded without a formal ceremony as mourners offered flowers.
  • Urasenke Konnichian reported about 4,200 attendees, including cultural leaders and public officials.
  • Sen Genshitsu, who died in August at age 102, was the former head of the Urasenke school and later held the Daisosho title.
  • He advocated global peace through tea following his World War II experience in a special-attack unit, encapsulated in his credo of “peacefulness from a bowl of tea.”
  • His accolades on display included Japan’s Order of Culture and France’s Legion of Honour, with a 63-photo exhibit of his life and tributes from figures such as Cultural Affairs chief Shunichi Tokura and architect Tadao Ando.