''Hatsugama celemony（first tea ceremony of newyear）'' of Urasenke tea ceremony began on January 7, 2024 at Konnichi-an in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City. While caring for the areas affected by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake at the beginning of the year, Sen-soshitsu Iemoto prepared thick tea and entertained the attendees.
After the coronavirus pandemic, we welcomed guests for the first time in four years, in addition to Urasenke-related executives and company representatives. The first meeting, which began at 9 a.m., was attended by about 30 people, including Sen-sosa, Omotesenke headmaster, Sen-soshu, Mushanokoji Senke headmaster, Kyoto Prefectural Governor Takatoshi Nishiwaki, Kyoto City Mayor Daisaku Kadokawa, and Commissioner of the Agency for Cultural Affairs Shunichi Tokura. In the Heisei tea room's ''Chofu-no-Ma'', which had a ryurei seating area, each person was served a bowl of thick tea at each kakufukudate.
The handmade red raku tea bowl ''Wa no Kokoro'' by the former head of Sen-genshitsu, which celebrated its 100th birthday last year, was presented to the official guests, Sen-sosa and head of the Omotesenke family. Tea bowls made from Kanazawa City's traditional craft, Ohi-yaki, were also used, and hopes were expressed for the recovery of the disaster-stricken areas. In the alcove, there are utensils related to the zodiac signs, such as a scroll with a ''Dragon and Tiger'' handwritten by the third former Count Sotan, giving it an early spring feel.
Headmaster Sen-soushitsu said, ''We would like to collect donations from Hatsugama participants and deliver them to the disaster-stricken areas,'' and raised the theme of ''Wa'' at the beginning of the song session, saying, ''I realized that through tea, I can soothe my own soul.'' I would appreciate it," he said. Approximately 2,200 people will be invited until January 12th, and the event will also be held at the Tokyo Dojo from January 16th to 19th.
