Arab News Japan

DUBAI: Ambassador of Japan to the UAE, ISOMATA Akio, awarded Urasenke Abu Dhabi study group the certificate of commendation for promoting Japanese culture through practising the “way of tea” on March 9^th.

The certificate of commendation is a way of thanking the UAE for promoting and instructing Urasenke, one of the main schools of Japanese tea ceremony, as well as mutual understanding and friendship between the UAE and Japan.

The Urasenke Abu Dhabi study group was founded in 2010 with the purpose of giving lessons to interested UAE residents about the Japanese way of tea “Chado” at Ryoku-Sui-An, a Japanese tea house that has been gifted to the third president of the UAE and the ruler of Abu Dhabi, Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan by SEN Genshitsu, the 15^th generation grandmaster of Urasenke.

Other than the way of tea, the group has been actively participating in all kinds cultural events to spread and educate Japanese culture to a wide audience.

Urasenke dates to the 16^th century in Japan, and it is built on certain solid foundational philosophies; harmony, respect, purity, and tranquillity and this is reflected in all aspects from preparing the bowl of tea to serving it to guests.