History of the Urasenke Tankokai Belgium

Start of Urasenke Belgium

The Urasenke Belgium Tankokai was founded in 1976 under the guidance of Nojiri Michiko sensei. She traveled to Europe at the request of Sen Shoshitsu the 15th who was headmaster of Urasenke at the time. Nojiri sensei worked tirelessly to spread The Way of Tea across Europe and founded Urasenke chapters in several European countries, including Belgium. It was Nojiri sensei who trained the first generation of Chado teachers in Belgium and started the tradition of intensive Chado practice seminars twice per year.

Retirement of Nojiri sensei

Urasenke Belgium has been fortunate enough to prosper under the guidance of Nojiri sensei for 50 years. We are beyond grateful to her for all her work and generosity. Nojiri Sensei retired to Japan in the spring of 2024, at the age of 88. Her unwavering dedication to Chado has been an inspiration to every member of the Tankokai. Her teaching not only gave us the technical knowledge and intricacies of the tea ceremony, but also fueled in each of us a deeper understanding of the importance of breathing and meditation, as well as of the Zen and cultural context which are the foundations of this centuries-old tradition.

The Belgian Tankokai Association of Chado Urasenke is proud to have financed the filming of a documentary on the teaching of Nojiri sensei during the thirtieth residential seminar at the Hurtebise monastery in Saint-Hubert in June 2023. This documentary was produced by Anneleen Hermans, with the gracious cooperation of the sisters of the Benedictine community of Hurtebise. You can watch the documentary at the bottom of this page. 

Looking to the future

As we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Urasenke Belgium in 2026, we look hopeful towards the future. We will continue our efforts to share the joy and fulfilment that Chado can bring. 

Documentary about the teaching of Nojiri sensei