21 families and schools participating in the Great Tea Gathering Commemorating the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan

For 84 days during the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi, the Great Tea Gathering will introduce the way of tea, a traditional art representative of Japanese culture, to the world and enable visitors to have hands-on experience of the tea ceremony.

Four hundred years ago, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, the legendary general who unified Japan, hosted the kitano-daichanoyu (the great tea gathering event held at Kitano Shrine), sponsored by Sen Rikyu. Court nobles, feudal lords and citizens from every class and background got together and enjoyed tea.

Succeeding the spirit of ichiza-byodo (everyone is equal when sitting at a tea ceremony,) this great tea gathering event at the EXPO will be a part of the great global exchange for the 21st century. Furthermore, in line with the EXPO's focus on the environment, the tea ceremonies will be an excellent example of pursuing harmony with nature.

The Great Tea Gathering will jointly be held by the schools of both non-powdered and powdered green tea ceremonies. This will be the first tea gathering of this scale ever, with the participation of 21 families and schools. This event will surely contribute to the EXPO as a good opportunity to introduce to the world the quintessence of Japanese culture developed through the climate and soil unique to this land.

Outline

1. Name:

The Great Tea Gathering Commemorating the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan

2. Hosted by:

Organization Committee of the Great Tea Gathering Commemorating the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan

Organizations:

Urasenke, Omotesenke, Sado-Matsuoryu, Sohenryu, Enshuryusado, Ueda Sokoryu, Edosenke, Sadosohenyoshidaryu, Sekishuryusadosoke, Dainihonchadogakkai, Kogisado-Yabunouchiryu, Shinoryusadoshouinkai, Hisadaryusozenkai, Hisadaryutokaishibu, Bishu Hisadaryu, Mushakoujisenke, Oubakushoufuryu, Gyokusenryu, Kunpuryu, Syougeturyu, Shofuryu

3. Sponsored by:

Aichi Prefecture
Japan Association for the 2005 World Exposition

4. Special sponsorship:

Kinrinkai (Group of Craftspersons of Tea Utensils in the Chubu Region)

5. Dates:

March 25 (Fri.) - September 25 (Sun.), 2005
Total of 84 days during EXPO 2005 AICHI, JAPAN
10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

6. Venue:

Japanese Garden Teahouse
(Total floor area: 274 square meters)

7. Participating Schools:

Total of 21 families and schools

8. Admission:

1,500 yen

9. Number of guests:

About 500 persons max./day

10. Contact:

Secretariat, Organization Committee of the Great Tea Gathering Commemorating the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan (c/o Broadcasting Culture Division, Tokai Television