Japanese Tea Master Sen Genshitsu Dies at 102

The Urasenke School of Tea in Japan announced the death of Dr. Sen Genshitsu, one of the world’s most influential tea masters and a global peace ambassador, at the age of 102.

Born in Kyoto in 1923, Genshitsu was a direct descendant of Sen no Rikyū, the historic founder of Japan’s tea tradition. After World War II, he devoted his life to spreading the message “peace through a bowl of tea,” traveling to more than 60 countries and performing ceremonies for leaders including Queen Elizabeth II, Pope John Paul II, and U.S. President George W. Bush.

He served as Grand Master of Urasenke from 1964 until 2002, later becoming a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and advisor to Japan’s Foreign Ministry. His honors included Japan’s Order of Culture (1997) and France’s Legion of Honor (2020).

Today, Urasenke has 167 branches in Japan and many more abroad, preserving the legacy of a man who turned tea into a universal language of peace.