The Dr. Sen Soshitsu International Way of Tea Center had itsfirst public viewing on July 18, 2002. A handful of special guests were on hand to witness the opening and blessing of the Tea Center, which was established through a $1 million endowment given by the Urasenke Foundation (Kyoto), led by Dr. Soshitsu Sen, the fifteenth generation Grand Tea Master of Urasenke, approximately one year ago.

Above: Dr. Sen gives the kampai. From the left stands Dr. Paul Varley; Mrs. Betty Varley; Mr. Jim Motonaga, ADI Design Group (designer of the Tea Center), Dr. Sharon Minichiello, and Dr. Soshitsu Sen XV.

The inauguration of the Tea Center, located in Moore Hall 222, began with introductory marks by Dean Willa J. Tanabe of the School of Hawaiian, Asian and Pacific Studies. Shewelcomed the small group, which included Dr. Sen, Dr. Paul Varley (Sen Soshitsu XV Chair of Japanese Cultural History, UHM) and his wife Betty, Mr. Yoshibumi Ogawa (Director and Senior Tea Master of the Urasenke Foundation Hawaii Branch), and participants from the Chanoyu Symposium. Kumu Hula John Lake followed Dean Tanabe by performing a Hawaiian blessing at the entrance of the Center.

Right: Dr. Sen says a few words on the occasion. Behind him hangs his portrait with a picture of his late wife Mrs. Tomiko Sen at the bottom corner of the frame.

A few steps down a hallway sits the Center for Japanese Studies, under which the Tea Center was established.

For more information on chado and Urasenke, please visit the site at http://www.urasenke.or.jp/texte/index.html.