On Sunday, November 14, 2021, at 1:00 p.m., the Urasenke Tankokai Los Angeles Association held the Sotanki at the Meigetsuan Tearoom in the Rafu Chuo Gakuen and Zoom. Forty-two people attended the event to commemorate the legacy of Gempaku Sotan sama, the third generation of the Senke family.
Chief of Administration, Mme. Soshin Robinson, gave an opening speech in which she thanked all the participants for their participation, followed by a silent prayer for Sotan sama.
At the hanayose, Mme. Soshin Abe, a head guest, offered her heartfelt flowers in the tearoom where the scroll of “Kanza Shofu wo kiku (Sit still/idle listening to the sound of pines and wind.))” by Katsudo roshi was hung. Then, volunteers from the instructors’ group and the officers (Dr. Soyu Garcia, Dr. Sogen Chernoff, Mr. Sou Duffy, and Mr. Soki Umbriaco) remotely introduced the flowers they had thoughtfully offered, and the host, Mme. Sokei Kung, concluded flower offering.
The kucha with the commentary by Mme. Soko Osumi, the chief of the instructors’ group, followed. Mme. Kung made a bowl of tea, and it was placed on the alcove by Mme. Sochi Ohshima, an assistant. The participants all bowed to Sotan sama, the master who laid the foundation for the Senke School, and vowed to continue their devotion.
At 2:00 p.m., Mr. Hidehiro Shingo, curator of Ashiyagama no Sato, started a lecture on “Exploring the Beauty of Chanoyu Kettles,” with Mme. Osumi acting as interpreter. He explained the difference between Ashiyagama, which was made from the Nanbokucho period, and Kyo-gama, which is generally known as a tea ceremony kettle, and showed pictures of Ashiyagama, which accounts for eight of the nine tea ceremony kettles designated as National Important Cultural Properties. After watching a video titled “Restoration of Ashiyagama” with narration in English, a question-and-answer session was held, during which the participants’ questions about the kettles were carefully answered. At the end of the session, a group photo was taken, and the meeting was closed at 3:30 p.m..