Genya Sonobe and Tea Ceremony Teachers (Terue Asahi, Michiko Chiba, Yasuko Yamamoto)

Artists Statements:

Genya Sonobe

Born in 1951 in Hokkaido, Japan, Genya Sonobe studied Mathematics at the Tokyo University of Science. Genya has been a Lecturer of Ceramics at the Tokyo Designer Gakuin (Nagoya School) for 8 years (since 1984).

Genya was awarded a prize at the Mino International Ceramics exhibitions, Japan, in 1988, he also produced the Ceramics Wall at the Nissan Gallery in Seto Store, Japan, in 1985.

He regularly holds his solo exhibitions in Department stores and Galleries in Japan and also took part in the Summer Workshop in Cencal Pottery School, Portugal, in 1997 and 1998. In 2003 he attended the RAKU Workshop at the Japan Festival in Galicia, Spain.

To produce Chawan (Tea Bowls) Genya aims to combine Tea Bowls with Zen. The RAKU Tea Bowl is an essential part of the Tea Ceremony, which is associated with Zen Buddhism. In his understanding, to create Tea Bowls is not only to make tools for the tea ceremony, but to create a spiritual link between himself and others.

The Japanese Tea Ceremony is of great significance to Zen Buddhist meditation. It incorporates Chawan (Tea Bowls) as one of the aesthetic and intellectual objects, offered to the guests. Sonobe thinks that the Tea Bowls reflect inner personalities and a bowl of tea has a very important meaning. He aims to point out the spiritual significance of the Tea Bowl through making them.

Terue Sohkoh Asahi

(Chamei: SohKoh)

 Born in 1941

Lives in Komaki-city, Aichi

Urasenke Kyoju (a senior rank of merit in the art of Tea).

(* Urasenke: Urasenke (literally "rear of the Sen house") is the name of one of the main schools of Japanese tea ceremony.)

She was awarded the certificate of “Shihan”, a rank of Master Teacher in the official Urasenke.

A member of Urasenke School Chado Conference.

Kado (Flower Arrangement), Ikenobo Kyoju.

Attended several events of Tea Ceremony Cultural Exchanges in Denmark, Korea, China, Thailand and Hawaii.

Michiko Souchi Chiba

(Chamei: Souchi)

 Born in 1946

Lives in Fukushima

Urasenke Kyoju (a senior rank of merit in the art of Tea).

(* Urasenke: Urasenke (literally "rear of the Sen house") is the name of one of the main schools of Japanese tea ceremony.)

She was teaching in Shoei High School and Shoin-Gakuin School in 1996 and experienced a lot of international cultural exchanges.

Yasuko Souyu Yamamoto

(Chamei: Souyu)

 Born in 1944

Lives in Shizuoka

Urasenke Kyoju (a senior rank of merit in the art of Tea).

(* Urasenke: Urasenke (literally "rear of the Sen house") is the name of one of the main schools of Japanese tea ceremony.)
A secretary of Shizuoka Branch of the official Urasenke.
Teaching Chado in Tokoha Gakuen (Secondary School).

(*Chamei: a master's certificate in the tea ceremony)