50th Anniversary Events

June 15-16, 2024

The Omotesenke Domonkai Northern California Region was established in 1969 by people who share a love of Omotesenke way of tea in San Francisco and surrounding area.

In 2024, together with the Southern California Region, both chapters celebrated their 50th anniversary with a commemorative event marking the joint founding milestone. The celebration, originally scheduled for 2020, was postponed by 4 years due to the pandemic.

From the Omotesenke Headquarters, Grand Master Yuyusai Sosho, Sakai Sosho, Ozasa Sosho, Yoshida Sensei, Watanabe Sensei, and Secretary General Yamamoto were in attendance, and approximately 200 Domonkai members gathered from Japan. On the day preceding the commemorative event, 50th Anniversary tea gathering co-hosted by the Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco and Omotesenke was held at the residence of the Consul-General of Japan, introducing Omotesenke way of tea to local dignitaries and guests from various fields.

San Francisco was blessed with clear skies, and local TV news covered the scene of more than 300 attendees walking through the streets of San Francisco in kimonos.

A man in traditional Japanese kimono receiving a framed certificate from a woman in black suits at a formal ceremony with floral arrangements in the background.

A proclamation was graciously presented to the Grand Master Yuyusai

Tea Offering Ceremony forWorld Peace

June 15th, 2026

A tea offering ceremony was performed by Grand Master Yuyusai Sosho on the stage of the Herbst Theater in San Francisco, dedicated to the prayer for world peace. During the ceremony, the Grand Master prepared and offered both Koicha (thick tea) and Usucha (thin tea) with the utmost sincerity.

This historic occasion marked the first tea offering ceremony ever held by the Northern California Region. In recognition of the Region’s 50 years of dedicated service, June 15, 2024 was officially designated as “Omotesenke Domonkai Northern California Region Day” in the City of San Francisco. A proclamation was graciously presented to the Grand Master Yuyusai by Grace Holikiri on behalf of Mayor London Breed — a moment of great pride and joy for all Domonkai members.

Following the ceremony, members of the Northern California, Southern California, Hawaii, and Eastern Regions gathered together in the Green Room — an elegantly appointed space adorned in mint green and gold — for a memorable joint tea gathering.

A woman speaks at a podium on stage during a traditional Japanese tea offering ceremony, floral arrangements, and seated tea masters or in traditional robes, with an audience in front.

A man wearing traditional Japanese attire and a face mask is performing a tea ceremony with various tea utensils on a black table. In the background, two people seated and watching the performance.

The Grand Master Yuyusai prepares tea with wholehearted devotion.

A large, ornate room with high ceilings, chandeliers, and decorative green walls with gold trim. Many people are seated at long tables covered with white tablecloths, watching a woman practicing tea ceremony with golden curtains on the right side.

At Green Room in Herbst Theater

５０周年記念茶会

（２０２４年６月１６日）

On June 16th, the commemorative tea ceremony was held at three distinguished venues throughout San Francisco. Koicha (thick tea) was offered in Rinwaken, the elegant tearoom of Nichibei Kaikan. Usucha (thin tea) was presented in Samson Hall at the Asian Art Museum. A Ryurei-style tea gathering, hosted jointly by the Southern California, Hawaii, and Eastern Regions, was held in the Ortega Room at the Presidio Officers Club.

Group of people dressed in traditional Japanese clothing sitting on tatami mats in a Japanese-style tea room, engaged in a tea ceremony or respectful gathering.

Yuyusai and his entourage, who honored the president’s tea gathering with their attendance, at Rinwaken, in Nichibei Kaikan,

Group of people, sitting in a traditional Japanese room with wood accents and sliding doors, listening to a speaker in formal attire, inside a tea house.

Kanso-an was designed by Masao Nakamura, known for his Sukiya-style architecture. In the alcove of the small room, Jikishin-an, a large fan with the inscription "Waki kasho o shozu" (A harmoniou spirit gives rise to auspicious blessings)was presented to Omotesenke Domonkai Northern California Region by Yuyusai Iemoto Sosho as a gift to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Near a person wearing traditional clothing, various ceremonial objects, including a globe-shaped ceramic vessel, are placed on a tatami mat.

Mizusashi (water jar) in the shape of the Earth

Tea bowls awere collected from all over the world.

Group of people dressed in traditional Japanese kimonos sitting on tatami mats in a formal gathering or ceremony inside Asian Art Museum with tall columns and large windows.

Tatami mats were set on the marble florrs in the Sausund Hall, Askan Art Museum

Traditional Japanese room with tatami mats, shoji sliding doors, and a decorative fan with Japanese writing on the wall.

A formal gathering in a spacious room with large windows, where people dressed in traditional Japanese kimonos are seated around a U-shaped arrangement of tables, participating in a tea ceremony led by two women at the front.

The three regions (Southern California, Eastern, and Hawaii) held joint tea gatherings in the Ryurei (table) style at the Officers' Club in Presidio, overlooking Golden Gate Bridge. The use of Native American basket vases, antique silver confectionery trays, and other uniquely American utensils was refreshing to the eyes.