An Introduction to Chanoyu: The Japanese Tea Ceremony

"While Chanoyu, the Japanese Tea Ceremony, has been alive and well for over 500 years, it remains a mystery for many both inside and outside of Japan. Please join me as we try to shed some light on Chanoyu's origins, philosophies, and culture." – Omar Francis

Omar Francis is a licensed instructor in The Urasenke Tradition of Chadō, commonly know as the Japanese Tea Ceremony. First introduced to Chadō at the University of Illinois (USA) in 1992, he was later admitted into the Midorikai program for a year of intensive training at the Urasenke headquarters in Kyoto, Japan. Since then, he has continued his studies as a member the Chicago Association of Urasenke, taking part in many educational and cultural activities. Francis Sensei is currently teaching at the Japanese Culture Center in Chicago, IL.