MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release

92-year old Japanese Grand Master conducts special

Tea Dedication at the museum to mark Friendship and World Peace

Singapore, 11 April 2016 – In celebration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between and Japan this year, Japan Creative Centre (the Embassy of Japan in Singapore), Chado Urasenke and the Asian Civilisations Museum will be hosting a special Japanese Tea Dedication at the museum. The ceremony will be conducted by the honourable Dr Genshitsu Sen, Grand Master XV of Urasenke, one of the three main schools of chado, the Japanese way of Tea. 2 Dr Genshitsu Sen is the 15th-generation descendant of Sen Rikyu, an influential figure in the development of chado. He has been serving as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador since 2012. The Grand Master hosted a chado function for Singapore’s Former Prime Minister, the late Mr. in Tokyo, Japan in 1986, and for Former President Mr. S. R. Nathan at both the Istana and Dr Sen estate in Kyoto, Japan in 2009.

3 The ceremony which will take place on Wednesday, 13th April 2016 from 3pm at the Asian Civilisations Museum will be graced by Mr S.R Nathan, former , and attended by members of the Japanese community in Singapore and as well as Singaporeans, to celebrate this special occasion.

4 Grand Master Dr Genshitsu Sen will also be conducting a private tea ceremony in the presence of President Tony Tan and Mrs Mary Tan and other guests at the Istana on 14th April 2016.

5 Your reporter and photographer/ camera crew are cordially invited to the event on 13th April 2016 at the Asian Civilisations Museum at 2.30pm. To confirm your attendance, please contact the media contact persons below.

Please refer to Annex A for Programme Schedule and List of VVIP Guests Annex B for Profile of Dr Genshitsu Sen, Grand Master XV of Urasenke Annex C for Map of Asian Civilisations Museum

For media enquiries, please contact:

Mr Yosuke Nishimuro Ms Sharinita Ismail

First Secretary Assistant Director The Embassy of Japan (in Singapore) Asian Civilisations Museum/ Peranakan DID: 6830 3582 Museum Email: [email protected] DID: 6332 7592 HP: 96702037 Email: [email protected]

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Chado Urasenke:

For information about Urasenke, please visit http://www.urasenke.or.jp/texte/index.html

Japan Creative Centre

As a result of the Japan-Singapore summit meetings held in March and November 2007, Japan Creative Centre (JCC) was established in 2009 as a base for disseminating information on Japanese culture and technology in Singapore. The Centre is the first of its kind outside Japan. It is a new type of culture and information centre that showcases Japan’s “now” and serves as a model for the future.

For more information about JCC, please visit http://www.sg.emb-japan.go.jp/JCC/.

Asian Civilisations Museum

The Asian Civilisations Museum is devoted to exploring the rich artistic heritage of Asia, especially the ancestral cultures of Singaporeans. Founded in 1993 and in its present building by the Singapore River since 2003, the museum traces its roots to the Raffles Museum, founded in the middle of the 19th century. ACM focuses on the many historical connections between the cultures of Asia, and between Asia and the world. Singapore’s history as a port city that brought people together from all over the world is used as a means of examining the history of Asia. Special exhibitions bring magnificent objects from around the world to our Singapore audience. Programmes like the annual River Nights encourage visitors to connect more closely with culture and the arts.

Asian Civilisations Museum is an institution of

Annex A

Tea Dedication and Sharing for Friendship and World Peace

Programme schedule

Date & Time: 13th April 2016 at 3:00pm

Venue: Asian Civilisations Museum

2:30pm Arrival of guests

3:00pm Opening Ceremony

3:15pm SJ50 Event: Kencha Shiki (Tea Offering Ceremony) and Wago no Chakai (Tea Sharing) by Dr. Genshitsu Sen

4:00pm Lecture “The Spirit of Peace through a Bowl of Tea” and Demonstration by Dr. Genshitsu Sen

4:45pm Tea Tasting

VVIP Guests:

 Mr. S. R. Nathan Former President of Singapore (Guest-of-Honour)

 H.E. Kenji Shinoda Ambassador Designate, Embassy of Japan in Singapore Mrs. Yuko Shinoda

 Ms. Rachel Tan Board Member, Asian Civilisations Museum

 Mr. Freddie Ang Soo Mui President, Chado Urasenke Tankokai Singapore Association Mrs. Elizabeth Ang

Annex B

Profile of Dr. Genshitsu Sen, Grand Master XV of Urasenke

Dr. Genshitsu Sen is the 15th-generation descendant of Sen Rikyu, influential figure on Japanese Way of Tea. He was the Grand Master or Iemoto, of the Urasenke school of Chado, and his key lifework has been his campaign for world peace by promoting “Peacefulness through a bowl of tea.” Through this, Chado has gained followers around the world.

He was Iemoto for 38 years up to the end of 2002, when he transferred the position and the hereditary name Soshitsu to his elder son, Zabosai. He is referred to by the title Daisosho, signifying his status as the once grand master.

Among his many international contributions in the field of academics, he endowed the Soshitsu Sen XV Distinguished Professorship of Traditional Japanese History and Culture as well as the Dr. Soshitsu Sen International Way of Tea Center within the Center for Japanese Studies at the University of Hawaii.

He is Honorary Consul of Peru in Kyoto, and in the past, served as Honorary Consul of Portugal in Kyoto (1969-1982) and Honorary Consul-General of Italy in Kyoto (1982-93). He has been a dynamic member of the Rotary International, formerly serving as R.I. Director (1988-90) and Rotary Foundation Trustee (1998-2002). He is widely known as a global-minded promoter both of the culture embraced by the Way of Tea and of World Peace. In 1997, he was awarded the Order of Culture by the Emperor of Japan.

Currently, within the Urasenke organization, he is President of the Urasenke Tankokai Federation, and President of the Junior College of the Urasenke Way of Tea at the Tianjin University of Commerce. Among his many positions outside the Urasenke organization, he is UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador (appointment by UNESCO, March 2012), and Japan-U.N. Goodwill Ambassador (Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, September 2005), as well as Chairman of the Rotary Japan Foundation, President of the United Nations Association of Japan, President of the Kyoto City International Foundation, Director of the Kyoto Municipal General Center for Lifelong Learning, and President of the Japan Equestrian Federation. Special Occasions on Chado Introduction for Singapore Government Officials by Urasenke Grand Master XV Dr. Genshitsu Sen

 Oct 1986: Former Prime Minister, the late Mr. Lee Kuan Yew in Tokyo

 Dec 2001: Former President, the late Dr. at the Oriental Singapore

 Mar 2009: Former President Mr. S. R. Nathan at the Istana

Former President Mr. S. R. Nathan Visits Daisosho for Tea at Konnichian

 Jun 2010: Tea Ceremony at Japanese Ambassador’s residence attended by:

Former Minister for Prime Minister’s Office, Mr. Lim Boon Heng

Mdm. Florence Chia (Mrs. Lim Boon Heng)

Ambassador at large at MFA, H.E. Prof. Tommy Koh

Chairman of the National Heritage Board Chairman of the Institute of Policy Studies Mrs. Koh Siew Aing

Chairman of Fraser & Neave Group, Mr. Lee Hsien Yang

Senior Director of Stamford Law Corporation, Mrs. Lee Suet Fern Annex C

Map of Asian Civilisations Museum

1 Empress Place, Singapore 179555