Uploaded by Shige Higashi on December 28, 2025 at 3:00PM
On a serene autumn afternoon, November 16, 2025, members of the Urasenke Tankokai Los Angeles Association gathered at the Nichiren Betsuin Buddhist Temple in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles for the annual Sotan Memorial (Sotanki). From 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., fifty-seven guests and members came together to honor the life and enduring legacy of Genpaku Sotan Koji (1578–1658), the third-generation Grand Tea Master of the Sen family and a pivotal figure in the development of the Urasenke tradition.
The memorial opened with a solemn Kucha ceremonial offering, hosted by Mme. Ishizuka and Mme. Masciandaro shachu. The role of teishu was gracefully assumed by Ms. Somi Gill, with Mme. Sokei Masciandaro serving as hanto. The tea guests—Mme. Sokou Jones, Mme. Soshin Kodama, and Mme. Soketsu Guterres—received the offering in an atmosphere of reverence, embodying the quiet dignity that defines the Way of Tea.
Simultaneously, a hanayose, or collaborative flower-arranging ceremony, unfolded before the assembled guests. One by one, Mr. Soshin Wakayama, Ms. Somi Uehara, Ms. Kazuko Kawada, Ms. Annie Ozatalar, and Ms. Naoko Zaima placed seasonal flowers into an array of vases. Each arrangement, distinct yet harmonious, was set against a reed screen, reflecting both the individuality of the arranger and the collective spirit of the gathering.
In the tokonoma alcove, a calligraphic scroll by Fukumoto Sekio set the contemplative tone. The phrase “Kanzashite shōfū wo kiku”—translated as “Sit still, listening to the sound of the wind through the pines”—invited participants into stillness. A tea bowl was offered, and in a moment of shared silence, all present joined their hands in prayer to Sotan Koji, bridging centuries through mindful remembrance.
The memorial concluded with a Koicha-tsuki Kagetsu demonstration, organized by former Sosei Matsumoto shachu. Participants included Dr. Sogen Chernof, Dr. Soyu Garcia, Ms. Sori Hirose, Mme. Soshin Abe, and Mme. Soshin Kawamura. The intricate and rarely seen performance was narrated by Mme. Soko Osumi, who provided thoughtful explanations of both the procedure and the historical achievements and teachings of Sotan Koji.
As the afternoon drew to a close, attendees departed with a lingering sense of tranquility. The Sotanki Memorial once again affirmed the timeless values of harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility—principles that continue to guide the Urasenke tradition and resonate deeply across generations and cultures.