On November 16, the annual Sotanki Memorial was held at the Nichiren Beikoku Betsuin in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. The event commemorates the life of Genpaku Sotan Koji (1578-1658), the third-generation Grand Tea Master of the Sen family. Fifty-seven guests and members participated to honor his legacy. 

The Kucha ceremonial offering was hosted by Mme. Ishizuka and Mme. Masciandaro shachu, with Ms. Somi Gill as teishu and Mme. Sokei Masciandaro as hanto. Tea guests included Mme. Sokou Jones, Mme. Soshin Kodama, and Mme. Soketsu Guterres.

At the same time, a hanayose or flower arrangement ceremony was conducted by Mr. Soshin Wakayama, Ms. Somi Uehara, Ms. Kazuko Kawada, Ms. Annie Ozatalar and Ms. Naoko Zaima. One by one, beautiful, seasonal flowers were arranged from a variety of vases on the reed screen.

Hanging in the tokonoma or Alcove was a scroll written by Fukumoto, Sekio, “Kanzashite shofu wo kiku” and translates into “Sit still listening to the sound of the pine through the wind”. A bowl was offered, and all the participants silently put their hands together to Sotan Koji. 

The event concluded with Koicha tsuki Kagetsu demonstration, organized by former Sosei Matsumoto shachu, with Dr. Sogen Chernof, Dr. Soyu Garcia, Ms. Sori Hirose, Mme. Soshin Abe and Mme. Soshin Kawamura. The intricate performance was narrated by Mme. Soko Osumi with explanations on the achievements and words of Sotan Koji.

The event left attendees with a sense of tranquility and respect for the Urasenke tradition.