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“I Trembled at the Sacredness”
The First-Ever Tea Ceremony Receives a Great Response
Tea Also Served to Climbers
Sēi and His Tea Group from Wakaba Ward Hold a Ceremony at the Summit of Mount Fuji

Sōshō Sēi, 63, head of Kōjitsuan, an Urasenke school of tea in Wakaba Ward, Chiba City, together with members of his tea group, successfully held what is described as the first tea ceremony in the history of Japanese tea ceremony at the summit of Mount Fuji in August.

Although the ceremony had to be postponed because of a typhoon, the day of the event was blessed with clear weather. Tea was served to approximately 5,000 climbers, including foreign visitors.

Having achieved a tea ceremony at the highest point in Japan, Sēi reflected:

“It was the greatest experience of my life in tea.”

The idea for the Mount Fuji summit tea ceremony came from Yūki Mori, 29, an employee of an organization in Funabashi City, who studied tea under Sēi. He began preparations in January of that year.

Because it was an unprecedented undertaking in the history of the Japanese tea ceremony, the preparations involved a series of exceptional measures.

The organizers negotiated with Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha, which has jurisdiction over the area above the eighth station of Mount Fuji, as well as with the Ministry of the Environment, the Agency for Cultural Affairs and other organizations.

They eventually obtained permission to hold the ceremony at Okumiya, the shrine of Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha located at the summit.

The ceremony was held on August 11.

A total of 15 people—nine members of the tea group, including Sēi, and six family members—were divided into three groups and began climbing the mountain the previous day.

More than 100 items, including tea utensils and kimono, had to be transported to the summit in order to recreate a formal tea ceremony. The organizers therefore specially borrowed a bulldozer normally used to transport goods to souvenir shops and other facilities at the summit.

After reaching the summit, the members of the tea group immediately began preparations without taking time to rest.

At approximately 10:30 a.m., Sēi prepared tea and offered it before the shrine at Okumiya.

The tea gathering that followed lasted approximately two hours, during which tea was served to around 5,000 climbers, including visitors from countries such as France and Canada.

The ceremony had originally been scheduled for July 15, but it was postponed because a typhoon struck the area.

Although there were concerns about the weather on the rescheduled date, the day turned out to be perfectly clear, with not a cloud in the sky, and the ceremony concluded as a great success.

The Mount Fuji summit tea ceremony was widely covered by the media. In addition, Sen Genshitsu, former head of the Urasenke school, presented the organizers with a personally handwritten calligraphic board, giving the project what the article describes as his “seal of approval.” The event subsequently became a major topic of interest in various circles.

After the ceremony, its originator, Yūki Mori, said with deep emotion:

“It was a once-in-two-lifetimes experience, the first and last of its kind. Above all, I was extremely happy that everyone who received the tea enjoyed it.”

Sēi likewise said:

“I felt the sacredness physically and trembled. It was the greatest experience of my life in tea.”

He remained visibly moved by the experience.

Photo caption:
“Tea was also served to climbers.”