Announcement: The 2nd World Matcha Forum

📢 Announcement: The 2nd World Matcha Forum

Following last year’s success, we are pleased to announce the 2nd World Matcha Forum!
Once again, we invite everyone around the world to connect through matcha and share thoughts on culture and peace.

🗓 Date & Time
Saturday, October 25, 2025
22:00 Japan Standard Time (Online via ZOOM)

🌿 Program

Opening Remarks
Kimono Club Switzerland
Guest Address
Mr. Takehiro Okubo, Chargé d’affaires ad interim, Embassy of Japan in Switzerland
Current Situation in Wajima
Introduction to Rescue & Reborn (Reconstruction Project)
Quiz Session
Part 1: Quiz on Dr. Sen Genshitsu, 15th Grand Master of Urasenke (Hosted by Sushi Yoko)Part 2: Quiz on Ambassador Keiichi Hara’s time in Afghanistan (Presented by Ambassador Keiichi Hara)
About Ambassador Keiichi Hara
・January 2018 – Minister, Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan
・October 2023 – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Djibouti
・Currently – Director General, Foreign Service Training Institute, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
・He once received direct instruction from the late Grand Master Dr. Sen Genshitsu during his training at the institute.
Tea Ceremony Demonstration + Participant Experience
Moment of Silence
In remembrance of the late Grand Master and for world peace

*The event will be conducted in both Japanese and English.

🌸 About Dr. Sen Genshitsu (1923–2025)

Dr. Sen Genshitsu, the 15th Grand Master of the Urasenke school of tea, survived World War II after being trained as a kamikaze pilot. He devoted his life to peace, vowing to use his “life that was spared” to promote harmony through the spirit of tea.
Guided by his principle, “Peacefulness through a Bowl of Tea,” he conducted over 300 tea ceremonies in more than 70 countries, advocating for peace and international understanding.
Although he passed away in August 2025 at the age of 102, his legacy continues to inspire people across the world.

🌏 Reflections as a Japanese Citizen

Whenever I travel abroad, I am deeply touched by the respect and trust people show toward Japan and the Japanese people.
Behind that trust are the efforts of our predecessors who built Japan’s reputation with sincerity and humility, for which I feel profound gratitude.

The late Grand Master Sen Genshitsu was one of those predecessors.
Now that he has passed, I believe it is our turn to consider how we, as Japanese citizens and global citizens alike, can contribute to peace in our time.
May this forum serve as a place for us to reflect on that question together.

🌿 Donation Recipients

1️⃣ Wajima Lacquerware Cooperative Association
👉 Official Website

2️⃣ International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC, Geneva Headquarters)
In honor of Dr. Sen’s message of “Peacefulness through a Bowl of Tea,” part of the proceeds will be donated to the ICRC to support those suffering from wars and conflicts.

The ICRC, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, is a global humanitarian organization based on the Geneva Conventions. Geneva is home to numerous international institutions including the UN Office (UNOG), WHO, ILO, and WTO. The ICRC’s mission is to protect the lives and dignity of people affected by armed conflicts.

Official website: ICRC
Instagram: @ICRC

💡 Participation Fee

All participation fees will be donated to the above organizations.
Your participation itself is a meaningful contribution to supporting the reconstruction of Wajima and humanitarian efforts by the ICRC.
Those who cannot join live will receive a recording of the event afterward.