Tea Ceremony with Omote Senke

Since 2023, Wellington Sakai Association has partnered with Wellington Omote Senke to spread tea ceremony to the Wellington Region. Keep an eye out for upcoming community events sponsored by WSA to attend one of these special ceremonies.

Tea Ceremony and Sakai

The traditional Japanese culture of tea ceremony involves the tea master and their guest experiencing a moment of understanding through the drinking of tea. In order to enrich this brief moment, the tea master provides as replete a welcome as possible, including preparing not only tea but also confectionery, decorating the tea room with flowers, and tending to the garden outside. Sen no Rikyu, the man who brought tea ceremony into such prominence, was born in Sakai.

Sen no Rikyu was active in the 16th century. During this period Sakai was experiencing its golden age as a trading city based in exchange with people from overseas. Born to a wealthy merchant household, Rikyu decided to follow the path of tea ceremony when he was 17, and learned from the leading masters of the times. After that, he went on to bring team ceremony into greater prominence while also adding further Zen concepts.

In Sakai City you can visit The Sen no Rikyu Chanoyu (Tea Ceremony) Museum, built in memory of Sen no Rikyu. At the museum, there is a replica of one of his original tea rooms.

Information from “Sakai Tourism and Convention Bureau Public Interest Incorporated Association” Official site - Sakai and Tea Ceremony