CHADO HISTORY IN ROMANIA
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The Japanese Tea Ceremony and the Way of Tea have both crossed the Japanese borders more than two centuries ago and permeated slowly the western cultures and their rationalistic approach to life.
The introduction to the West of such a strong Japanese tradition, representing the core values of the Japanese soul and mind was not a simple process. In their encounters with the Japanese “way” local cultures reacted via predictable cultural and social behaviors, in particular driven by tendencies to dilute and over adapt to the local culture and its manifestations of modernism at one end, or attempt to maintain the tradition in its pure Japanese conservative manifestations to the extent where it was difficult for westerners to practice it, at the other end. Streamed by these challenges, the Way of Tea continued to spread outside Japan’s borders. |
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In the 1990s the Way of Tea eventually found its way to Romania. This happened thanks to a young Japanese lady, Miss Kazuko Yamaguchi, tracing her roots to the history of an old noble family of Japan. Miss Kazuko Yamaguchi graduated in sociology from the university of Yokohama City and found herself in Romania as Mrs. Kazuko Diaconu Yamaguchi.
Eager to share with the Romanian public her deep belief in the values of the Japanese culture, Mrs. Kazuko Diaconu funds together with her husband, Paul Diaconu whom she met in Japan, the Nipponica foundation, with Mrs. Diaconu as President. |
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The goals of the foundation were the support the development of cultural exchanges between Japan and Romania. Among the many activities, promoted by the Nipponica foundation and Mrs. Diaconu, we find the Japanese Tea Ceremony. Mrs. Kazuko Diaconu is familiar with the ceremony through her practice in Japan within the Urasenke Tradition of Tea teaching system led at that time by Hounsai Soshitsu XV. Mrs. Diaconu organizes the first demonstrations of the Japanese Tea Ceremony at various cultural venues in Bucharest and starts teaching the Tea ceremony at various locations among which the Students Cultural Center in Bucharest and the University of Bucharest.
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At some of the demonstrations and classes, Mrs. Kazuko Diaconu invites an old friend of hers, Nojiri Michiko, who also teaches Chado in Rome and students benefit from the vast experience of Nojiri sensei. |
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The year 2000 represents the 100th year since diplomatic relations were established between Japan and Romania. By request of Ambassador Mitsuhashi Hidekata of the Japanese Embassy in Romania, Urasenke Foundation in Kyoto dispatches a delegation led by son of Hounsai O-Iemoto SEN Soshitsu XV -the leader at the time of the Urasenke Iemoto system in Japan. A number of senior officials including two of its in-house Chanoyū experts, Shirahase Soko and Fushida Ayato, accompany their leader- who will eventually become Zabosai O-Iemoto SEN Soshitsu XVI - to take support the events organized by Nipponica association led by Kazuko Diaconu. It is the first demonstration of the Japanese tea ceremony carried on at the National Theater in front of over 400 people.
In 2007 Mrs. Diaconu is invited by Mr. Serban Georgescu, director of the “Angela Hondru” Center for Japanese-Romanian Studies and an avid admirer of the Tea Ceremony himself, to give a demonstration. The demonstration is a success and Mrs. Diaconu begins a fruitful collaboration and numerous activities at the Romano – American University which hosts the Center for Japanese-Romanian Studies. A group of practicing students is formed at the Center. |
After the passing away of her husband, Mrs. Diaconu focuses even more on the plethora of activities to promote the exchange of cultural values between Romania and Japan. She continues to focus on the training of group of students at the Center for Japanese-Romanian Studies. Her dream: the serious study and practice of the way of spiritual and aesthetic discipline for refinement of the self – The Way of Tea.
During her visits to Japan, Mrs. Diaconu goes to Kyoto and eventually registers the group in the records of Urasenke Foundation as Tankokai Romania (Tankokai means a non-profit organization acting as a local chapter with the purpose of the study and practice of the Japanese Tea Ceremony). Thus begins the official study and practice of the Japanese Tea Ceremony in Romania.
Her prolific activity is temporarily slowed down by an unexpected health related departure of Mrs. Kazuko Diaconu to Japan.
In 2009, Gabriel 宗 賀 (Sōga) Caciula, who is a certified instructor by Urasenke Foundation in Japan, teaching at various locations in Europe, is invited to teach tea classes in Bucharest. The group formed naturally grows and in 2012 it is registered in Romania with the government authorities, and months later in 2013 in Kyoto as Chado Tankokai Romania Luminis.
During one of her visits back to Romania, Mrs Kazuko Diaconu meets with Mr. Caciula to discuss the possibilities of cooperation between the two groups. Everyone is to benefit from the joining of the two groups.
Mrs. Diaconu returns to Japan and shortly after, the sad news of her passing away reaches Romania.
But the commitment to fulfill her dream continues. In 2015 the group created by Mrs. Kazuko Diaconu Yamaguchi is given permission to join the Chado Tankokai Romania Luminis association led by Gabriel 宗 賀 (Sōga) Caciula.
Her dream, the serious practice of the Way of Tea - the way of spiritual and aesthetic discipline for refinement of the self - continues to be cherished in the hearts of all the students studying at Chado Tankokai Romania Luminis.
During her visits to Japan, Mrs. Diaconu goes to Kyoto and eventually registers the group in the records of Urasenke Foundation as Tankokai Romania (Tankokai means a non-profit organization acting as a local chapter with the purpose of the study and practice of the Japanese Tea Ceremony). Thus begins the official study and practice of the Japanese Tea Ceremony in Romania.
Her prolific activity is temporarily slowed down by an unexpected health related departure of Mrs. Kazuko Diaconu to Japan.
In 2009, Gabriel 宗 賀 (Sōga) Caciula, who is a certified instructor by Urasenke Foundation in Japan, teaching at various locations in Europe, is invited to teach tea classes in Bucharest. The group formed naturally grows and in 2012 it is registered in Romania with the government authorities, and months later in 2013 in Kyoto as Chado Tankokai Romania Luminis.
During one of her visits back to Romania, Mrs Kazuko Diaconu meets with Mr. Caciula to discuss the possibilities of cooperation between the two groups. Everyone is to benefit from the joining of the two groups.
Mrs. Diaconu returns to Japan and shortly after, the sad news of her passing away reaches Romania.
But the commitment to fulfill her dream continues. In 2015 the group created by Mrs. Kazuko Diaconu Yamaguchi is given permission to join the Chado Tankokai Romania Luminis association led by Gabriel 宗 賀 (Sōga) Caciula.
Her dream, the serious practice of the Way of Tea - the way of spiritual and aesthetic discipline for refinement of the self - continues to be cherished in the hearts of all the students studying at Chado Tankokai Romania Luminis.
Chado Tankokai Romania Luminis is working now closely with the Romanian – American University and the Center for Japanese-Romanian Studies to continue to introduce the Romanian population to the Way of Tea.