Born Hiroshima, 20th June 1945

 

Grand Master (Iemoto) of the Ueda Sōko Tradtion of Japanese Way of Tea

 

Director of Ueda Ryū Wafūdō, Inc.　

 

2-10 Furuehigashi-machi

Nishi-ku, Hiroshima City

733-0872

 

Official Positions

役職

 

President, Hiroshima Prefecture Assembly for Youth Development

President, Hiroshima Prefecture Education Support Group for Private Middle and High Schools

Board of Directors, Hiroshima City Cultural Foundation, Inc.

Fellow of the Nihon Kogeikai

 

Personal History

経歴

 

1968

Graduated from Keio University, Faculty of Economics

 

1972

Became heir of the Grand Master (Iemoto) of the Ueda Sōko Tradition of Tea – A tradition of tea founded by feudal warlord and tea master Ueda Sōko

 

1995

Assumed the position of Grand Master (Iemoto) of the Ueda Sōko Tradition of Tea

 

2005

Received Zen Buddhist Name ‘Sōkei’ at Sōgen-ji Temple, Bizen (Okayama Prefecture)

 

Major Activities

主な活動

 

1987

Supervisor, tea house in Japanese garden of Chongqing City, China

 

1988

Design Supervisor, tea house ‘Senshintei’ presented to the City of Hannover (Germany) by the City of Hiroshima

Design Supervisor, tea house at International Conference Center, Hiroshima (center designed by Tange Kenzō)

 

1990

Supervisor, works on tea garden (roji) at restoration of Furuta Oribe favoured tea house ‘Juandō’ at Dōgo-kan (Dōgo-kan of Kurokawa Kishō design), Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture. (Restoration work performed by Yasuimoku Koumuten)

 

1994

Conducted Course of Lectures on Tea Ceremony at Hangzhou University, China

 

Acting Chairman, Art Exhibit Committee for 12th Asian Games, Hiroshima Chairman of Executive Committee, “Spirit and Form of Asia” exhibition held at 12th Asian Games

 

1995

Supervisor, tea house at Rai Sanyo Shiseki Museum (designed by Nikken Sekkei). Nakane Kinsaku was Supervisor of tea garden (roji)

 

1996

Design Supervisor, Senshintei Tea garden (roji), Germany

Featured in NHK BS special program ‘Old Families of Japan - the 16th Head of the Ueda Sōko Tradition of Tea’ screened on NHK BS and NHK General (filmed after succeeding position of Grand Master (Iemoto))

 

1997

Co-host with Matsuoka Seigō at the Inaugural Oribe Awards Award Ceremony entitled: ‘Yomigaeru Oribe’ (The Oribe of Our Generation)

 

1998

Historical Novel ‘Fūryū Buhen’ run in Weekly Asahi magazine. Written by Tsumoto Yō with Tradition founder Ueda Sōko as central character

 

1999

Composed title art and provided commentary for Asahi Shimbun publication ‘Fūryū Buhen’ by Tsumoto Yō

Supervisor/Author, ‘The Tea of Ueda Sōko’ published by Kodansha. Publication was the first systematic coverage of Ueda Sōko

 

1999

Involved in NHK program ‘Utsukushiki Buke Sadō’ produced to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the death of Ueda Sōko. Televised on NHK BS and NHK General Television.

 

Supervisor, ‘Hideyoshi, Oribe and Ueda Sōko Exhibition’ held at Hiroshima Prefectual Art Museum, Daimaru Osaka Shinsaibashi store and Mitsukoshi Tokyo Nihonbashi store under the joint sponsorship of Nihon Keizai Shinbun and NHK. Exhibition commemorated 350th anniversary of death of Ueda Sōko. Exhibition attracted wide interest with over 120,000 visitors.

 

2003

Supervisor, construction of tea house at guesthouse of Kamotsuru Sake Brewing Co Ltd (in Higashi-Hiroshima City, based on the tea house at the late Kodama Kibō’s residence)

 

Building construction: Yasuimoku Koumuten Garden construction: Uetoh Co, Ltd. (Sano Tōemon)

 

Through organisations such as the Japan Foundation conducted lectures, performed exhibitions and introduced cha-no-yu in France, America, Germany, China, Russia, Canada, Netherlands, Belgium and other countries

 

Selected Publications

著書

 

Cha no yu of the Ueda Sōko Tradition (co-authorship, Daiichi Gakushū)

The Tea of Ueda Sōko (Kodansha)