Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, expressed his condolences on the passing of Dr. Genshitsu Sen, a noted Japanese figure regarded as a symbol of intercultural dialogue.
Dr. Sen was renowned for introducing the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, known as “Sado,” to world leaders, dedicating his remarkable life, spanning over a hundred years, to the philosophy of “peace through a cup of tea.”
In a message shared on social media, Sheikh Mohammed stated, “I extend my heartfelt condolences on the loss of Dr. Genshitsu Sen to his family, friends, and the Japanese people. He was an emblem of cultural exchange and a model of pride in heritage, preserving it for future generations through his traditional tea rituals.”
Dr. Genshitsu Sen passed away in Japan today at the age of 102. He was once on the verge of becoming a kamikaze pilot during World War II but ultimately became a prominent master in the art of Japanese tea, serving matcha to world leaders.
Born in 1923, Dr. Sen underwent training as a kamikaze pilot during his youth; however, the war ended before he could embark on a mission. He reminisced about offering tea to his fellow soldiers during military training.
Peace Through a Cup of Tea
With the motto “peace through a cup of tea,” Dr. Sen, who hailed from Kyoto, utilized the traditional “Urasenke” tea practices to convey his anti-war messages.
He conducted ceremonies at significant locations, such as the United Nations headquarters in New York and the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor — the site of the devastating Japanese attack that led the United States into World War II.
In a 2023 interview with NHK, Dr. Sen emphasized the calming effect of tea culture, stating, “A cup of tea brings great tranquility to the soul. When everyone is calm, there will be no war.”
In 1964, he became the fifteenth master of the “Urasenke” tradition after his father’s passing, serving tea to numerous royals and presidents, including Singapore’s former president Tony Tan, Queen Elizabeth II, and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. He was also a friend of former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and former Chinese President Hu Jintao.
Dr. Sen often remarked that his experiences in the war shaped his belief in the necessity of peace. He received the Order of Culture in Japan in 1997 and the French Legion of Honor in 2020, the highest honor awarded in France.
He retired in 2002 as the leader of the tea school but remained active well into his centenarian years. As of April of this year, he held over 100 advisory positions in cultural and governmental spheres and delivered speeches that sometimes exceeded an hour, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun.
He served as a goodwill ambassador for UNESCO and was affectionately known as the “flying teacher” due to his extensive travels.
Though Dr. Sen has departed, he has left behind a legacy steeped in the peace embodied in a cup of tea.