History
Urasenke was founded by Sōtan (1578-1658), Sen no Rikyū’s grandson. The name «Ura» (back) comes from where his residence stood in relation to Omotesenke’s. The current grand master, known as Zabōsai, is the sixteenth iemoto since Rikyū.
Going international
From the 1960s the iemoto Tantansai (1923-2013) drove the school’s international expansion, opening centres in Europe, the Americas and Asia. Urasenke now has branches in more than 60 countries. In Spain the most active centre is in Barcelona, linked to the Japanese consulate.
Style and practice
Urasenke leads with usucha as the main preparation in its public demonstrations. Its movements are elegant and fluid, with an emphasis on communication between host and guests. It is the school most non-Japanese know as the reference for modern chanoyu.