今回は、岐阜から*川上省吾先生が特別参加くださり、男点前を指導、披露していただきました。生徒にとって日本からの男性の先生の参加は、楽しく貴重な体験だったと思います。又川上先生に縁のある吸江斎宗匠のお軸もお持ち頂きました。
短い間に、懐石の準備をし、濃茶を点て、茶事のデモストレーションをし、４０人のための薄茶とお菓子を差し上げました。参加した皆さんに喜んでいただきました。
The Penn State students appreciated the valuable advice given, especially on Men’s Otemae from Special Guest Instructor Shogo Kamakami* from Gifu. We hosted a demonstration of Chaji, including a kaiseki meal, Koicha and Usucha, for approximately 40 guests. They seemed to thoroughly enjoy the presentation, the tea and the sweets.
Ms. Kitazawa demonstrated the procedures for chaji, using freshly prepared food and correct dishes, and then Mr. Kawakami demonstrated men’s Koicha Otemae. Meanwhile, Ms. Benefield explained the activities to the guests while they were happening. Then, Mr. Shao performed Usucha Otemae. We served tea and sweets to all of the guests. After the guests left, we ate lunch, cleaned up and packed Ms. Kitazawa’s chaji utensils, loaded the cars and headed back to our homes.
Demonstration attendees:
*Special guest Mr. Shogo Kawakami
· Omotesenke style senior instructor.
· Vice president of the 1500 member Omoesenke Domonkai tea organization in Gifu.
· He was a leader of the 600 members of the younger group of Omotesenke Domonkai Gifu.
· The head of the Kawakami family, a 300-year old family in Takayama city, Gifu.
· The great grandson of Kyuko-sai’s daughter. Kyuko-sai was 10th generation Omotesenke.
Kyuko-sai, had 3 sons and 2 daughters.
The 1st son succeeded to be the 11th generation of Omotesenke, Rokuroku-sai.
The 2nd son succeeded the 11th Mushakouji-senke grand master.
The 3rd son was adopted by the Hisada family (relative of Omotesenke, Urasenke and Mushakouji senke families).
The 2nd daughter, named Nobu(Shin), married into the Kawakami family.
Shin’s daughter married into the Niki family in Takayama, Gifu. The Niki family is a Sake brewing enterprise since 1695. Mr. Shogo Kawakami was born in the Niki family as a second son and adopted to the Kawakami family when he was 20 years old.
The Kawakami and the Niki families are both related to the Omotesenke family by blood.