interview #003
2020.07.06 UP
表千家 家元
千 宗左
In 2018, Sen Sosa, who inherited the tea ceremony of Sen no Rikyu, was named Omotesenke 15th Iemoto. A dialogue unique to two people who share a background, such as memories of childhood and Japan as seen from the world, has been realized.
(profile)
Born in Kyoto in 1970. Childhood name Yoshinori. Omotesenke Iemoto. Chairman of the General Incorporated Foundation Suspicious Akira. General Incorporated Association Omotesenke Domonkai. Suspicious Bunko Honorary Bunko Director. Graduated from Doshisha University Faculty of Letters in 1993 and completed the master's program at the University of Buckingham in the United Kingdom in 1996. In February 1998, he received the name of Gakusai from the old master Fukutomi Yukiso of Daitokuji Temple, and inherited the name of a sect member and obtained the prestige of a young sect. In 2012, he received a doctorate in arts from Doshisha University. On February 28, 2018, he was named the 15th Soza. His books include "Study of Tea Ceremony in the Early Modern Period-Focusing on Omotesenke" (Kawahara Bookstore), and his edited books include "Koshin Sosa Shosho" (SHUFUNOTOMO) and "New Edition Motohaku Sotan Document" (Suspicious Bunko).
Looking back on the state of emergency
Chika: Thank you for this time. It's a strange feeling because it's my first time to interview my cousins. As expected, I am confused to call him Yoshinori, so I will call him Iemoto this time. Immediately, it was difficult for Kyoto to respond to the new coronavirus.
Thousand: Yeah. The number of tourists in Kyoto has dropped sharply. Events at the Iemoto, including regular lessons, tea ceremonies and tea ceremony ceremonies have been canceled, postponed, or reduced in scale.
Recent: I hope there will be no impact next year.
Thousand: There is also a first kettle on New Year's Day, so I'm worried about how long this effect will last.
Chika: Again, the work of the event was canceled one after another. It was difficult at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake, but there was almost no influence from overseas. This time it's happening all over the world ...
Thousand: This year, there was an event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Omotesenke's North Ka branch (San Francisco) and South Ka branch (Los Angeles), and I was planning to go to the United States in June, but I couldn't even go to the United States. hand….
Chika: It can't be helped.
Chi: I couldn't go to school with my sons, and I couldn't go to play, so I lived an unhealthy life both mentally and physically ... (laughs).
Chika: It's the same at home (bitter smile). By the way, has your eldest son started practicing?
Thousand: I sometimes participate in private events at Iemoto such as New Year's Daifukucha, but I haven't been involved in earnest yet. As was the case with myself, I gave priority to studying at school first and then experiencing various things to learn while I was a student.
Iemoto and his friends meet in front of the floor of the tea room "Shofuro" for the first time in a while.
Near: How is this room usually used in Omotesenke Fushinan?
Thousand: This is a tea room called "Shofuro" , which is a tea room that is used on a daily basis, such as the usual practice of the Iemoto and the gathering of craftsmen (ten Senke) on the first day of every month. It was created in 1921 by Seisai Twelve, as a favorite of Joshinsai Seventh. There are pods * 1 on three sides so that you can observe the lessons.
Near: I see! How many uchi-deshi are there now?
Thousand: I think there are about 30 people in total, from elderly people to young people who have recently joined. Five to six young people come every day to clean and prepare the rehearsal hall and help the Iemoto. At each rehearsal day or event, the uchi-deshi in charge will come out, and at the time of big events such as the first pot and Rikyu, everyone will gather.
Near: Are there any people living in the area?
Thousand: Five young people take turns doing night shifts.
Near: Please tell us about the alcove hung between the alcove.
Thousand: It's a line called "Clear stream without interruption".
Near: What is uninterrupted?
Thousand: It is a word that expresses that a pure mountain stream is flowing continuously every moment. It is similar to the fact that the tea ceremony tradition since Sen no Rikyu has continued without interruption, and I used this word on various occasions when I was named two years ago.
* 1 Sheath room: The veranda of a long and narrow tatami mat that is provided like a corridor on the side of the space.
Chika: This Kao is your father, isn't it?
Thousand: That's right. This was written by my father, Jimyosai, during the Iemoto era.
Chika: That folding screen is also wonderful.
Thousand: That is called Furosaki byobu, and it is used for the tea room in the hall. The shelves are Miki-cho shelves.
The Omotesenke served the Kishu Tokugawa family as a leader of the tea ceremony throughout the Edo period, and it was in Miki-cho that the mansion was given to the castle in Wakayama. This type of shelf is called the Mikimachi shelf because it was made from Wakayama wood by Koshin Sosa, the fourth generation.
Chika: Your brother's surname "Miki-cho" also comes from there.
Thousand: That's right. For generations, Senke had the practice of changing his surname except for his eldest son, and his younger brother changed his surname from "thousand" to "Miki-cho" when he got married. I wonder if the name is often taken from a place name that is traditionally related. For example, my father's younger brother called himself "Sakai" after Sakai, the birthplace of Rikyu.
Chika: When I'm talking about relatives, it's endless (laughs).
Thousand: Our relatives are interesting because they can be traced back to old times in history.
Senke and Konoe family
表千家歴代関係図(江戸時代前期)
Thousand: In the Omotesenke family, there are many letters and tea ceremony records left by successive Iemotos, and among them, various names of the Konoe family are mentioned. It's a strange feeling that we, the descendants of both families who have interacted with each other, are now talking as relatives.