Demonstrations

In Europe, a developed and globally-connected society, the word zen is now commonly used and understood. Matcha, a traditional Japanese drink, is consumed as a daily ritual, especially amongst the young. Traditional Japanese design concepts such as kintsugi continue to inspire people in modern Europe. 

Do those young people drinking matcha even know that it is typically enjoyed at tea ceremonies? The Japanese tea ceremony is a special world unto itself, often referred to as "the comprehensive art of Japanese culture." The tearoom is small, and in that seemingly humble space the details become clear: hanging scrolls, fresh flowers, decorative bowls, tea ceremony utensils, Japanese wagashi sweets, and of course, the delicious teas. All of that is the ritual itself. 

During the Warring States period in Japan, the tea ceremony was greatly developed by a tea master called Sen no Rikyu, now known with his teachers  as the originators of Chado, the way of tea. He established the tea ceremony (called chanoyu) as a once-in-a-lifetime experience that connects people through opening your heart to the other, along with the aesthetic concept of wabi-sabi. People around the world have embraced the Japanese tea ceremony, as a lifelong lifestyle or simply as a past-time.

MONO JAPAN has invited Herman Soshu Somsen to demonstrate the Urasenke Tea Ceremony. During the demonstration, he will explain the flow, space, and etiquette of the tea ceremony. Afterwards, there will be a Q&A session where anyone can feel free to ask questions.

The world of the tea ceremony is mysterious — even to Japanese people. Experience the ritualised way Japanese people have long enjoyed matcha.

Herman Somsen 
The Urasenke Netherlands Liaison Office was opened in 1994. In 1997, Herman Soshu Somsen started to work as Urasenke’s resident tea instructor, running the Netherlands Liaison Office, and representing the Urasenke tradition of tea in The Netherlands.

In the almost thirty years that Urasenke has had an office here, a lot of work has been done to establish Urasenke School of Tea in The Netherlands. In 1999, a non profit foundation was established: the Urasenke Foundation Netherlands. This organisation supports the work being done through the Liaison Office. The Foundation’s board committee has been, and is, supporting to help deepen the relations with institutions such as the Japanese Embassy in The Netherlands, the University of Leiden, the Ethnological Museum in Leiden, and Japanese cultural centres around the country. Also, relations with Nijmegen University, many different museums, as well as cultural institutes, art schools and theatre companies in the country have firmly embedded Urasenke tea in The Netherlands.

The endeavour of the Urasenke Netherlands Liaison Office to spread knowledge and understanding among the people who live in The Netherlands is an ongoing involvement. So, if you are interested and you want to know about tea or further your knowledge and understanding of the Japanese tea ceremony, you can contact them at info@urasenke.nl.

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