So-Oku Sen: Tea Life February 10, 2009

So-oku Sen, the next grand tea master of Mushakoji-Senke, one of the three main tea schools in Japan, is one of the great innovators and modernizers of the tea ceremony of recent decades. From his expertise in Japanese art to designing his own Ryu-rei style (Western seating) table, Sen's way of introducing new ideas to what could be sometimes characterized as the "old fashioned" tea ceremony is remarkable. According to Sen, the tea ceremony doesn't have to be rigid and formal, and the future of the ceremony will involve embracing the art of tea in everyday life. In this program, Sen will speak on the relationship between tea ceremony and art, how tea ceremony can be incorporated into everyday life, and how easily one can enjoy it.