History of Omotesenke
Fushin’an
The Fushin’an Foundation preserves the Grandmaster’s teahouse and garden, as well as treasured tea utensils and ancient documents dating back to Rikyu. It also contributes to Japanese culture by carrying forward Rikyu’s Way of Tea and spirit.
As an organization of the Grandmaster, it conducts all traditional events passed down in the Omotesenke tradition. Its roles are diverse, including granting certificates of succession, holding memorial services and tea ceremonies for past generations, performing tea offering ceremonies at shrines and temples, providing training guidance at the Grandmaster’s residence and the Tokyo training center, holding various workshops, and training live-in students and the Senke Jissoku (the ten craftsmen families associated with the Senke).
It is said that the name Fushin’an was taken from the Zen phrase “Fushin kaikai konnichi no haru” (“The wondrous flower blooms — today is spring”). The word fushin means “mysterious” or “beyond comprehension,” and can be understood as a feeling of awe toward the greatness and mystery of nature that surpasses human understanding.
Fushin’an is the name of the teahouse established by Sen no Rikyū, which has been inherited by successive generations of the Grandmaster (Iemoto.) The term Fushin’an also refers to the Sen family residence and its entire organization, and it serves as the official title of the Omotesenke iemoto, Sen Sōsa.
Activities in Japan and around the World
Omotesenke Domonkai 50th Anniversary Memorial: Sekaidofu Fan by Jimyosai
About the Omotesenke Domonkai
The Omotesenke Domonkai is an association for those who study Omotesenke Way of Tea. It is organized to inherit and promote the tea ceremony tradition passed down in the Omotesenke school and to contribute to the improvement and development of Japanese culture.
It is composed of headquarters and branches, with branches extending to all prefectures in Japan (53 branches) and overseas (4 branches). Under the cooperative system of the headquarters and branches, we are focusing on enhancing the association, promoting regional culture, and further developing the tea culture.
In recent years, as interest in tea ceremony has been increasing, we have been holding “Community Courses on Tea Culture,” which are being rolled out nationwide as one of the pillars of the association’s activities.
June 2000 Memorial Tea Offering Ceremony for Japanese and American War Dead on the Battleship Missouri
International Goodwill
We conduct various international cultural projects as cultural envoys of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as goodwill cooperation with overseas diplomatic missions. We hope to become a bridge for cultural exchange and mutual understanding with countries around the world through the spirit of tea ceremony.
In addition to hosting important guests from overseas, the organization also holds tea offering ceremonies for war dead and deceased Japanese people overseas. In recent years, as interest in tea ceremony has been increasing, we have been holding “Community Courses on Tea Culture,” which are being rolled out nationwide as one of the pillars of the association’s activities.
