Omotesenke and Wakayama City

The sixth to tenth generation Iemoto (Grand Tea Masters) of Omotesenke served as Tea Masters to the lords of the Kiishu Domaine, today known as Wakayama Prefecture. They worked in the castle town of Wakayama City, 60 kilometers south of Osaka and only 120 km from Kyoto. It was during the stewardship of the ninth Iemoto, Ryoryosai (1775 – 1825) that the current Main Gate of the Omotesenke headquarters was donated by the Kiishu lord, Harutomi Tokugawa (1771 – 1852) of Wakayama Castle. Harutomi became an important figure in the life of the tenth Omotesenke Iemoto, Kyukosai (1818 – 1860), training him in the ways of Rikyu’s tea that Ryoryosai had taught him.

Today, over 60% of tea practitioners in Wakayama City are of the Omotesenke school and there remains a close connection between teachers there and the headquarters in Kyoto. The current Iemoto-designate, son of current 14th headmaster Jimyosai, has taken a name to honour the connection between Wakayama and Omotesenke.