Dr. Sen Genshitsu (Sōshitsu XV) International Way of Tea Center
ABOUT
The Way of Tea Center, established in 2001, is organized within the Center for Japanese Studies (CJS), under the supervision of the CJS Director. The Way of Tea Center has an international focus and serves to assist CJS in fulfilling its mission of promoting a deeper understanding of Japan within a global context. Specifically, the Way of Tea Center educates students and helps to perpetuate tea culture while fostering a deeper awareness of Japanese culture and international understanding.
The Center aids in coordinating existing and new resources and activities related to the practice of tea, such as:
- The Way of Tea Practicum Course (ASAN 324) which is taught every semester in the academic year in the Asian Studies Department
- Tea ceremony demonstrations
- Sponsorship of the Chanoyu Outreach Project by offering tea ceremony demonstrations at the UH Mānoa campus. These ceremonies are conducted in cooperation with Ms. Akiko Ono, Kyoju (Professor) of the Urasenke School and a member of the Urasenke Hawaiʻi Association.
To follow the undergraduate student-run Way of Tea Club at UH Mānoa, please visit their website at: https://uhmteaclub.weebly.com/. Members are dedicated to the study of traditional Urasenke-style Chado under the instruction of Ms. Akiko Ono.
Jaku’an news and updates:
[December 6, 2022]
Jaku’an marks its 50th anniversary
The time-honored structure was erected in 1972, after Genshitsu Sen, a 15th generation grand tea master, commissioned the building of a chashitsu (authentic tea ceremony house) in Hawaiʻi. First constructed in Japan and reassembled in Hawaiʻi, Sen donated the structure to UH in an effort to carry out his life’s mission of fostering peace through the teaching of tea ceremony.
Read more in the UH News about Jaku’an
[July 2019]
Ms. Akiko Ono, Professor of the Urasenke School and UH Way of Tea practicum instructor, wrote an article on tea ceremony in Hawaiʻi and at the University in the web magazine, “Waraku.” The article is written in Japanese and can be found in two parts, at the links below:
[February 18, 2015]
University of Hawaiʻi News video and article on the renovations and rededication of Jaku’an – “Hidden gem restored for future generations”