Kyoto University Shinchakai Alumni

Following a demand among enthusiastic Kyoto University students to learn the tea ceremony, the Shinchakai was founded in January 1941 as the “Kyoto University Shinchakai” under the leadership of Shin’ichi Hisamatsu (1889–1980), then an associate professor in the Section of Buddhist Studies, Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Letters, with the full support of Urasenke Tantansai Soshitsu Sen (XIV) (1893–1964). The year 2021 marks the 80th anniversary of our founding. Currently, the Kyoto University Shinchakai is engaged in activities such as Sesshinkai (zazen meditation and tea ceremony practice) twice a week, a special Sesshinkai (intensive practice) several times a year, welcome tea ceremonies for new students, training tea ceremonies, and farewell tea ceremonies.
In 1956, the “Shinchakai” was created as a national organization for alumni, engaged in activities such as tea ceremony practice and zazen meditation, research on tea ceremony classics, publication of the bulletin Shincha, symposiums, webinars, and alumni exchanges.

[Year of founding]
1956

[Chairperson]
Hitoshi Minobe (graduated in 1988), Graduate School of Letters

[Number of members]
190

[Secretariat]
General Affairs: Daiji Kimura

[Main events]
General meeting and symposium once a year, annual tea ceremony once a year, training dojo once a month, Shincha seminar (online seminar) once every few months
Publication of the bulletin Shincha once a year