Japan Fest
August 19, 2023
Chicago Culture Center
The Japan Festival Chicago is an annual event held in Chicago, Illinois, that celebrates Japanese culture, cuisine, and art. It offers a day of immersive experiences where attendees can enjoy traditional and contemporary performances such as taiko drumming, dance forms like kabuki, martial arts demonstrations, and live music concerts featuring Japanese instruments. The festival also showcases a diverse range of Japanese artwork, including paintings, calligraphy, ceramics, and origami. Visitors can participate in workshops and demonstrations to learn traditional crafts like origami folding and calligraphy writing. Additionally, the festival features a variety of authentic Japanese cuisine, from sushi and ramen to street foods like yakitori and takoyaki. There are cultural exhibitions and displays providing insights into Japan's history, traditions, and contemporary society, allowing attendees to deepen their understanding of Japanese culture. The festival also includes marketplaces where visitors can purchase traditional crafts and souvenirs.
from Japanese-City.com
North American Chado Relay
January 3, 2021
online
"Urasenke Tankokai associations throughout North America will take part in this event by posting on the Chado Relay Facebook page, as well as Instagram #urasenketea with photos and captions that will spread Daisosho-sama’s message of “Peacefulness through a Bowl of Tea.”
Each Association will also create a post sharing some background on their Association, annual activities (pre-COVID) or significant events."
from the Chado Relay Homepage
Urasenke North American Regional Traveling Workshop
May 1, 2017
We were again honored to be one of the few North American associations to host this cross-country event, sponsored by the Urasenke Tankokai Federation and the Chado Urasenke North America Head Office.
Machida Gyōtei Sensei took us through two intense days of study from basic movements through upper temae. Much appreciated Japanese to English translation was provided by Christy Bartlett Sensei of the San Francisco branch of Urasenke.
Morton College’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Week
May 4, 2016
Morton College
We were pleased to be a part of Morton College's week-long celebration of Asian and Pacific Islander culture. Students joined us for an hour of tea and conversation.
Rikyuki in Kyoto, Japan
March 28, 2015
Kyoto City, Japan
We traveled to the Urasenke Headquarters (Konnichian) in Kyoto, Japan to attend the annual memorial tea gathering for Sen Rikyu. We were also honored to participate in a day of tea training from several Urasenke Gyōtei Sensei.
"As we waited to enter the main room in the new Heisei chashitsu, Hounsai Daisosho came in, full of energy, to greet us and shook hands with many of us! He looked incredibly well! This month he will be 92! Our president, among other association representatives, was invited to be a guest in the main room for the first seki, where Zabosai Oiemoto did shozumi/1st charcoal and prepared an offering of tea in the memory of Rikyu, which was taken to the tokonoma by Daisosho. After a short sutra, Oiemoto made a bowl of koicha for the guests. Sweets and tea were brought to the guests by Oiemoto’s youngest son, who is the designated 17th generation and his cousin, who is the son of Izumi-san, Oiemoto’s younger brother. It was an honor for all of us to be there.”
Dean Raffaelli, Chicago Association President
Urasenke North American Regional Traveling Workshop
May 16, 2014
We were very honored to be one of the five associations to host this cross-country event, sponsored by the Urasenke Tankokai Federation and the Chado Urasenke North America Head Office. Shimura Soko Gyōtei Sensei lead us through three days of intensive and inspiring study. Christy Bartlett Sensei, the founding director of Urasenke Foundation San Francisco, provided us with invaluable translation. Our gratefulness for their teachings knows no bounds.
Chado Urasenke Tankokai Chicago Association 50th year anniversary
September 10, 2010
We celebrated the occasion with a luncheon and a two-day chanoyu seminar lead by Ishikawa Sōjin Gyotei sensei and Ishikawa Sōko sensei.
During the banquet member and professional Pipa musician, Yang Wei surprised us with a moving rendition of Sakura
Our first 50 years
At the time of our 50th anniversary, we showed the following slide show that highlighted our first 50 years here in Chicago. Please enjoy this little trip down memory lane.
please excuse the few typos