Sen Soshitsu XV, tea master and peace advocate, dies at 102
He was 102.
Sen Soshitsu XV was the 15th 'iemoto' head of the Urasenke school of tea ceremony.
After retirement, the grand master was known by his honorary name, Sen Genshitsu.
He was born in Kyoto in 1923, the year of the Great Kanto Earthquake, as the eldest son of the 14th head of the Urasenke tea school.
While a student at Doshisha University, he was drafted into the Imperial Japanese Navy through the student mobilization program during World War II.
While there, he was chosen to become a kamikaze pilot, but he survived the war because he was not deployed on a suicide mission.
In 1949, he was ordained at Daitokuji temple, the family's ancestral temple in Kyoto's Kita Ward.
In 1950, he became the 'wakasosho' heir apparent, and began traveling across the United States to promote the way of tea.
After the death of the 14th head, he succeeded as the 15th Urasenke head in 1964.
He retired in 2002, passing the iemoto position to his eldest son and adopting the honorary name Sen Genshitsu.
Sen Soshitsu XV devoted himself to 'tea diplomacy.'
One notable occasion was in 1986, when he served tea to then-Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana during their visit to Kyoto.
Embracing the motto 'Peacefulness through a Bowl of Tea,' he dedicated his life to international exchanges and peace activities through the harmonious tea ceremony.
He conducted peace prayer tea ceremonies at locations such as Vatican City, the United Nations headquarters in New York, and the U.S. Congress in Washington.
Even after turning 100 in June 2023, he held a tea ceremony offering in Sydney, Australia.
Over his lifetime, Sen Soshitsu XV visited more than 70 countries.
He advanced the internationalization of the Japanese tea ceremony, establishing numerous Urasenke branches overseas. He also focused on tea ceremony education abroad, delivering lectures at universities worldwide, including the University of Hawaii.
In 1997, he became the first person in the tea ceremony world to receive the Order of Culture.
In 2020, he was awarded the Commandeur of the French Legion of Honor.
He also served as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.
Sen Soshitsu XV authored numerous works on the spirit of tea, including titles such as 'The Japanese Way of Tea: From Its Origins in China to Sen Rikyu.'
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Japan Today
3 hours ago
- Japan Today
Genshitsu Sen, Japanese tea master and former Kamikaze pilot trainee, dies at 102
Genshitsu Sen XV, grand tea master of the Urasenke School of Tea, performs a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony on the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, on July 19, 2011, in Honolulu. Pearl Harbor survivors along with honored guest participated in the morning ceremony. By MARI YAMAGUCHI Genshitsu Sen, a former Kamikaze pilot trainee who later promoted peace as a grand master of the Japanese tea ceremony, has died, officials said Thursday. He was 102. Sen had been hospitalized since falling and experiencing difficulty walking in May. He died early Thursday after developing breathing trouble, Urasenke officials said. As a survivor of Japan's wartime Kamikaze suicide program who saw many of his fellow pilots take off for one-way flights, Sen was a staunch anti-war advocate and promoted 'peacefulness through a bowl of tea.' 'Serving tea brings peace to everyone," he said. 'If everyone feels peaceful, there will be no war.' Sen became the 15th Grand Master of the Urasenke school of Japanese tea ceremony in 1964. Urasenke is one of three top schools founded in the early 17th century based on the teachings of Sen no Rikyu. As grand master, Sen performed the tea ceremony more than 300 times in 70 countries to promote the art of Chado, or the way of tea, and global peace, earning him the nickname 'flying teamaster.' He hosted tea ceremonies to pray for peace in milestone years marking the end of the war and, in 2011, served tea at the USS Arizona memorial in Honolulu, Hawaii, to pay tribute to those who died in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Sen was born in 1923 in Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto. He was only 6 years old when he first took lessons to become a grand master. His future was mired in uncertainty during the war. In 1941, the year he entered Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan launched the war on the United States, and two years later he was among 100,000 students mobilized to fight. In 1943, Sen was conscripted to the Imperial Navy and began training to be a Kamikaze pilot, but the war ended before he was deployed. Sen brought his tea ceremony equipment with him when he joined the navy and served a group of several fellow trainees a farewell tea before their mission. He handed over his grand mastership to his son in 2002, but continued to promote tea and peace until earlier this year. His wake and funeral were to be held by close family only and a memorial is expected at a later date, Urasenke said. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
9 hours ago
Documentary Recounts Postwar Sexual Abuse of Japanese Women
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The Kurokawa Settler Community, whose members moved to what is now China's Songyuan, Jilin Province, in 1941. (© TV Asahi) But when Soviet forces actually invaded, the Kwantung Army (the division of the Imperial Japanese Army operating in Manchukuo) took flight, and the colonists were left to fend for themselves, falling victim to looting and violence. They were not only attacked by the Soviet troops, but also by the local people whose homes and land they had taken. Some colonist villages chose to commit suicide en masse rather than to face the possible alternatives. Some 80,000 colonists died during the invasion, including many who perished from famine or infectious disease. Among the colonists was a group of around 600 who came from the village of Kurokawa (now Shirakawa) in Gifu Prefecture. Amidst the chaos, the Kurokawa settlers chose to surrender their young women in return for food and safe convoy. For two months, 15 unmarried women, aged over 18, were forced to provide 'sexual entertainment' for the Soviet troops. Location of the former entertainment quarters. (© TV Asahi) A year after the war's end, the surviving 451 Kurokawa pioneers were repatriated to Japan. After returning, the women who had been forced to provide 'sexual entertainment' were subjected to slander and could no longer face living in the village. Some moved away, concealed their past, and married, while others remained single for their entire lives. After the war, those who were aware of this shameful episode kept silent. It was not until almost 70 years later that some of the victims began to speak out. Breaking the Silence The first women who broke their silence were Yasue Yoshiko and Satō Harue. In November 2013, they first spoke publicly about their ordeals at regular talks held at the Manchukuo Settler Peace Memorial Hall in the village of Achi, Nagano Prefecture. Yasue Yoshiko, who recounted the reality of 'sexual entertainment' at the Manchukuo Settler Peace Memorial Hall (Achi, Nagano). (© TV Asahi) Yasue, the eldest of the women, passed away in 2016. Satō told her story in a documentary that aired on NHK in 2017, causing shockwaves. Thereafter, she was often interviewed by reporters, particularly from regional newspapers. In August 2018, she spoke at a testimonial meeting held at Gifu's municipal hall, which received high-profile coverage in the daily Asahi Shimbun . Satō Harue in 2019. (© TV Asahi) Matsubara Fumie, director of the documentary film Kurokawa no onnatachi (The Women of Kurokawa), says she was deeply moved when she read the article and saw a photo of Satō, then aged 93: 'She drew her lips into a thin line. I sensed strong determination and conviction in her expression. I grew curious about what kind of person she was and wanted to speak to her myself.' Matsubara Fumie, director of the documentary film Kurokawa no onnatachi . (© ) Three months later, Matsubara had the opportunity to interview Harue. In November 2018, a ceremony was staged to unveil an epitaph for the women erected in the grounds of a shrine in Kurokawa to record the truth about the victims. Prior to this, there was only a statue of Jizō (a Buddhist bodhisattva held to be a protector of children), simply labeled as a 'Monument to the Maidens,' alongside a cenotaph and other memorials. Paid for through donations, it was installed in 1982 to remember the victims, but without any accompanying explanation, out of 'respect' for their past suffering. Thirty-six years later, the silence was broken, and an explanation was finally placed alongside. An epitaph (right) installed alongside the 'Monument to the Maidens' in November 2018. (© TV Asahi) Accurately Conveying Historical Fact The unveiling of the epitaph was covered briefly on national network news. Matsubara, who directed the story, continued to gather information after this episode, interviewing other former Kurokawa Settler Community members to learn more about the background and circumstances of the 'sexual entertainment.' The interviews became the basis for a television documentary, broadcast in November 2019, and of Matsubara's new film. 'Above all, I wanted to depict the bravery of these women,' she recalls. 'Satō Harue faced up to her past experiences and spoke on camera, using her real name. Her courage, determination and very way of being deeply moved me. I wanted to share what she had achieved and the story she has left us with as many people as possible.' Another key purpose was to convey historical fact. Satō was a victim of cruel sexual violence, and although she had sacrificed greatly to protect the village, for decades, people acted as if nothing had happened. Fujii Hiroyuki, thefourth chairperson of the Settler Community Survivors Society, felt heavily burdened by this, and went to great efforts to prepare the epitaph. His father had been employed to call in the women when they were required to entertain the troops. Fujii Hiroyuki, chair of the Settler Community Survivors Society, spent many months preparing the text of the epitaph. (© TV Asahi) According to Fujii, 'The younger generation make atonement for the sins of their parents' generation. We must look closely at the mistakes they made and record this history, no matter how uncomfortable it may be. I feel solace in having achieved this.' Reclaiming Their Dignity The COVID-19 pandemic took hold shortly after the television documentary was aired, making it difficult to stay in touch with the people of Kurokawa. But after restrictions were eased, Fujii received surprising news. In October 2023, Yasue Reiko, one of the three surviving victims, contacted him to say she would meet with him. Matsubara had managed to arrange an interview with Yasue in 2019, but at the time it was under the condition of maintaining her anonymity. But she had refused to return to Kurokawa and did not attend the epitaph unveiling. Yasue Reiko, who was interviewed in 2019 on the condition of anonymity. (© TV Asahi) Fujii had long wanted to apologize to Yasue in person, but when he reached out to her, she had previously cited health issues and other justifications for being unable to meet. Things changed eventually, though, recalls Matsubara. 'I accompanied Fujii when he went to meet Reiko and I was surprised at how different it was from four years earlier—her manner of speaking had totally changed. She smiled and had a much gentler facial expression—she even joked with us.' Yasue Reiko appeared relaxed when she met with Fujii. 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As Harue draws her final breaths, Yasue Kikumi, who had been close to her since their time in Manchuria, spoke to her. The younger Kikumi was fortunately spared the sexual violence suffered by the other women, having been tasked with preparing the bathing area of the entertainment quarters. More than anybody, she was conscious of the sacrifice made by the older girls. She always held a deep sense of respect and appreciation for them. The camera caught Harue's final moments as she was soothed by these words. There has never been such a touching moment captured on film. Yasue Kikumi's affection for Satō Harue, at right, is touching. (© TV Asahi) The women's courage, transmission of historical truth, and recovery of dignity—Matsubara hoped to capture these aspects for posterity through her film. She stresses the strong responsibility she felt. For her, the biggest motivation was her encounter with Harue and being with her in her final moments. 'Harue prevented the women's terrible experience simply being buried in the shadows of history. It was not a matter of feeling resentment, criticizing, and opening up disputes, but of having regard for one other's stories. This has enabled the next generation to apologize. This allowed Harue to live for almost a century. It was more than enough for one human to bear. The issues of history and gender are certainly crucial, but respect for an individual and their life is also important.' Satō Harue with film director Matsubara. (© TV Asahi) Film Information Official website: Trailer (Japanese) (Originally published in Japanese. Banner photo: A scene from the film Kurokawa no onnatachi . Satō Harue [front row, far right] among the 15 young women forced to provide 'sexual entertainment' to Soviet troops. © TV Asahi.)
12 hours ago
Victims of One of Last WWII Air Raids on Japan Mourned 80 Years On
Akita, Aug. 14 (Jiji Press)--A memorial service was held in the northeastern Japan city of Akita on Thursday for the victims of one of the final air raids on the country during World War II. The ceremony, hosted by a civic group that works to share the experiences and memories of the airstrike, took place at Akita Harbor Promotion Center in the Akita Prefecture capital, marking the 80th anniversary of the bombings of the city's Tsuchizaki district by the U.S.-led Allied powers. Attendees, including bereaved relatives and Akita Mayor Jun Numaya, observed a moment of silence and offered flowers for the victims. "We must never forget that the peaceful life we have now has been built on the sacrifice of each and every person who died (in the airstrike)," Kikuo Ito, the 85-year-old leader of the group, said. "We will continue paying tribute to the victims and sending out our message wishing for peace from Tsuchizaki," he said. The bombings started around 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 14, 1945, the day before Japan's surrender in the war, targeting the former Nippon Oil Co.'s Akita refinery in the Tsuchizaki district, and lasted about four hours until around 2:30 a.m. on Aug. 15. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
