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)