The Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu honored the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s (CJS) and our with the Commendation of the Consul General, recognizing the lasting impact they contribute to Japan-�鶹��ý relations and cultural understanding.

CJS, founded in 1986, has been a driving force in advancing Japanese studies across UH. The Center has grown out of more than a century of Japanese language and culture instruction at the university. Today, it connects 29 full-time faculty members and 11 language instructors, and supports the offering of more than 100 courses each year that explore Japan through disciplines ranging from sociology and law to theatre and history.

“We study and teach about Japan in order to prepare the next generation for their futures spending time in Japan, working with Japan, helping us understand Japan, and for that, especially drawing upon UH’s remarkable strength in language and cultural instruction,” said Mark Levin, director of CJS and a professor at UH’s Richardson Law School.

Former CJS directors attended the special ceremony, including Patricia Steinhoff, Robert Huey and Mary McDonald, alongside former associate director Gay Satsuma. Their decades of leadership have helped shape the program’s national reputation and global reach.

Preserving Chadō

The UH ����ԴDz� Way of Tea Club was also recognized for its work preserving and teaching the Urasenke Chadō tradition, a refined practice of preparing and serving Japanese tea. Beyond its ritual, Chadō embodies the values of harmony, respect, purity and tranquility that have influenced Japanese art, architecture, philosophy and business.

Consul General Yoshinori Kodama praised the Center and the club for its dedication to bridging Japan and �鶹��ý. He also paid tribute to the late Daisōshō Genshitsu Sen, the 15th-generation Grand Master of Urasenke, whose guidance deeply shaped both organizations.

Accepting the commendation on behalf of the club was UH ����ԴDz� lecturer and Way of Tea instructor Akiko Ono, who continues to share the spirit of Chadō with a new generation of students.

Mary G. McDonald, who taught and later directed the (CJS) at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�, has received one of Japan’s top honors for her decades of work advancing ties between the U.S. and Japan.

At a special ceremony on September 26 at the Japanese Consulate in Honolulu, McDonald received the . The award recognizes her decades of work advancing academic exchange, cultural understanding and international collaboration.

“This recognition is entirely due to the tireless dedication to strong community and educational ties,” said McDonald. “I thank the government and people of Japan and �鶹��ý for the opportunities our UH students and faculty have enjoyed in Japan. I thank the late Dr. Genshitsu Sen for his generosity to UH ����ԴDz� students, emphasizing peace through The Way of Tea. UH ����ԴDz� is truly an excellent place to study Japan, it has been a privilege to play a small part.”

Building bridges

McDonald served on the UH ����ԴDz� faculty for 26 years. She guided countless students and scholars through programs that deepened ties between Japan and �鶹��ý. As director of CJS, she strengthened inter-university exchange programs and supported initiatives that brought Japanese culture and research into the heart of the university. She also served on the selection committee for the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, also known as JET, helping many participants begin their journeys living and working in Japan.

Mark Levin, the current director of CJS, recalls how McDonald represented the perfect role model in directing the UH ����ԴDz� Center for Japanese Studies.

“She engaged with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community in her soft-spoken but persuasive manner. Among the accomplishments of her term was overseeing the renovations of Jaku’an, the teahouse located on the UH campus, smoothly overcoming a host of logistical challenges from start to finish,” Levin said.

Leadership honored

At the ceremony, Consul General Yoshinori Kodama praised McDonald’s leadership, especially in study abroad programs and her dedication to advancing Japanese studies in �鶹��ý.

The celebration also featured a congratulatory message from Robert Huey, a professor emeritus of the and a kampai (cheers) toast by Jean Ariyoshi, former First Lady of �鶹��ý.

The University of �鶹��ý is remembering Daisōshō Genshitsu Sen, a 15th-generation tea master, who shared bowls of tea with presidents, royalty, and everyday people, always as an offering of peace. His connection to UH ����ԴDz� stretched across more than seven decades, shaping a legacy of culture and learning. Sen, a global ambassador of the Way of Tea, died in Kyoto, Japan, on August 14. He was 102.

Sen served as grand master with the name Sen Sōshitsu XV prior to his retirement, leading the Urasenke tradition of tea. He first studied at UH ����ԴDz� in the early 1950s and began offering evening classes in Japanese tea ceremony, known as chadō or the “Way of Tea” on the campus and in the community. His lessons fostered a lasting legacy. For more than half a century, UH ����ԴDz� students have studied the Way of Tea inside Jakuʻan, a traditional tea house which Sen donated in 1972 located behind the East-West Center and helped to restore in 2014.

Related UH News stories:

• Traditional Japanese tea house marks 50 years at UH ����ԴDz�, November 22, 2022
• Hidden gem restored for future generations, February 18, 2015

“Dr. Sen was one of those people you are fortunate to encounter even once in your lifetime,” said David Lassner, UH President Emeritus. “His graciousness, joie de vivre and humility belied an incredible strength of belief and character. At 100 he still spoke with the vitality and passion of someone decades younger.”

Building bridges

Returning regularly to �鶹��ý, Sen’s gifts to UH extended far beyond Jakuʻan. He established the Sen Sōshitsu XV Distinguished Chair in History and the Sen International within the (CJS) at UH ����ԴDz�.

Through his Midorikai scholarship, Sen sent generations of UH ����ԴDz� students to Kyoto to study tea at Urasenke headquarters.

“He had the ability to walk in a room and his presence would immediately grab the eyes of every individual there…somehow I feel that all of his innumerable accolades can’t possibly define quite how great he was. There are many people around the world that call for world peace, but there are not many people that actually take the necessary actions to reach it,” said Justin Peterson, a UH ����ԴDz� alumnus who extensively studied Sen’s tea teachings and is now carrying them forward in Kyoto on a Midorikai scholarship.

Legacy of learning

Grounded in Sen’s vision, the Way of Tea Center at UH ����ԴDz� helps CJS foster greater understanding of Japan in a global context and supports UH students’ first lessons in tea practice through the Way of Tea Practicum, (ASAN 324), offered in the fall and spring semesters through the in multiple sections.

“We have been so fortunate for our connection with Dr. Sen carried through decades since his first visit to �鶹��ý in 1951. It was with good reason that my predecessor, CJS Director Mary McDonald nominated Dr. Sen for the Nobel Peace Prize in light of his remarkable engagement in trying to bring ‘peacefulness through a bowl of tea’ even in strife torn locations, meetings with global political leaders and other great spiritual leaders. The chance that I had to spend time with Dr. Sen will certainly stand among the richest rewards of my time in this role,” said Mark Levin, a law professor at UH ����ԴDz� and director of CJS.

Turning point

Sen’s life was shaped by extraordinary experiences. During World War II, he trained in the Japanese Navy’s kamikaze corps but was pulled back before flying a mission. Instead, he served tea to his fellow pilots before they departed. That moment, he later said, cemented his lifelong mission of seeking peace through tea.

“He was a man of principle, empathy, and kindness whose ethical compass served to better an often troubled world. Dr. Sen no gomeifuku wo kokoro yori oinori itashimasu,” said Peter Arnade, dean of the .

Marking milestones

In 2023, the �鶹��ý State Legislature honored Sen’s 100th birthday, the 50th anniversary of Jakuʻan, and the work of the Way of Tea Center. He was praised for bringing peacefulness through tea to people across the world.

More than 800 students and community members filled the Campus Center Ballroom at the on October 25 for the annual Nippon Culture Day. The event showcased a vibrant blend of traditional and contemporary Japanese culture. Organized by the Japanese section of the (EALL), the annual showcase offers cultural immersion for �鶹��ý high schoolers, college students and members of the public.

Participants had the chance to dive into various Japanese art forms and practices through interactive workshops on topics such as calligraphy, ikebana (flower arranging), Okinawan language and manga/anime drawing. For those interested in strategy, there were sessions dedicated to igo, a classic Japanese board game.

“What we hope to accomplish with Nippon Culture Day is to expose students and the community to Japanese culture in all its dazzling diversity. Many are learning Japanese language and interested in pop culture products like anime and manga, but here they will get a taste of everything from daily cultural rituals to ancient court music,” said Andre Haag, a professor of Japanese literature and associate chair at EALL.

Perpetuating classic sounds

Audiences were treated to the soothing sounds of the koto, a 13-stringed zither, and the sanshin, an Okinawan three-stringed instrument. Three student musicians from UH ����ԴDz�’s (COS) were featured sanshin performers on stage.

Adding depth to the event, a high school student visiting from Japan offered insights into classical Japanese literature, discussing how iconic Japanese authors drew heavily from nature to help shape their narratives.

Nippon Culture Day is co-sponsored by the UH ����ԴDz� and COS. Located within the , the EALL department has hosted the free event for more than 20 years.

The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa welcomed a delegation of 30 distinguished lawyers, executive leaders and their spouses from the (JFBA) on July 22.

Professor Mark Levin, director of the UH Mānoa and director of the ‘s Pacific-Asia Legal Studies Program, led the tour of the campus with discussions that focused on the UH law school’s international programs.

“We are fortunate to have had a longstanding relationship with JFBA that has helped to provide opportunities for collaboration and learning on both sides,” Levin said. “Our programs that bridge borders help prepare our students for a rapidly changing world where international knowledge is critical.”

The group included former JFBA President Attorney Motoji Kobayashi, and many recent vice presidents from 2022–2024, including all six of the women in the class of 2022–23, which was the largest group of women leaders in the organization’s history.

UH law school’s and programs for foreign-trained lawyers, along with the Visiting Scholars program, have many graduates and current students from Japan. They come to �鶹��ý to study law in the U.S. at a school that values Japanese legal studies and is located close to Japan.

Since 2002, the UH law school has welcomed a number of JFBA working delegations, with sessions looking at the structure of legal education in the U.S., the U.S. jury system, �鶹��ý’s trust law systems and other topics. However, this was the largest JFBA group to visit the campus—bringing attention to the �鶹��ýlaw school’s engagement with Japanese law and society in faculty research, student scholarship and pedagogy.

Japanese tea ceremony (chadō) courses have been offered on campus by the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� since the 1970s. 15th generation Urasenke Grand Master Genshitsu Sen recognized around the world and nearing his 101st birthday in April, introduced this practice, also known as the “Way of Tea” to UH ����ԴDz� in the early 1950s. At that time, Sen was studying at the university and shared his chadō expertise during evening classes for adult education. Although the initial number of students was small, more enrolled over time as Sen returned through the decades to teach and share his insights.

“While there are many Japanese-Americans in �鶹��ý, what’s most important for me is that by teaching Japanese traditions, I hope to convey shared human values regardless of nationality or ethnicity,” Sen said.

Celebrating peace

On February 14, Sen returned for a public lecture to share his knowledge and commitment to fostering peace through tea. Sen, recognized by UNESCO as an Ambassador of Goodwill, spoke at the free event hosted by the UH ����ԴDz� (CJS) at the Campus Center Ballroom, which was attended by hundreds. He emphasized the principles of the “Way of Tea”: wa, kei, sei and jaku (harmony, respect, purity and tranquility).

Steeped in wisdom

Madeline Gilbert, a junior majoring in and at UH ����ԴDz�, took the Way of Tea course currently taught by Akiko Ono Riley, a lecturer and chadō instructor at UH ����ԴDz�.

“We’re just so lucky to be able to listen to him speak or hear someone of his age and intellect, and he has so many kind and interesting thoughts to give that it’s just an awesome experience,” Gilbert said.

Gilbert attended the lecture with fellow members of the UH ����ԴDz� Way of Tea club, a student-run organization that has practiced Urasenke-style tea ceremony since 1967. Both the club and Way of Tea courses at UH ����ԴDz� are held inside Jakuʻan, a traditional tea house at East-West Center donated by Sen in 1972. The chashitsu (authentic tea ceremony house), first constructed in Japan, was reassembled in �鶹��ý by Japanese artisans who traveled here for the task. The tea house celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022.

Leading the Way of Tea

Yuma Tochika, a UH ����ԴDz� senior and the current president of the Way of Tea club followed in the footsteps of his parents who were both members during their university days, Tochika, a biology major, sees engaging in this ancient practice as a meaningful connection to his heritage.

“I think it’s sort of like meditation in some aspect. It’s really all about concentration, and even though you have to repeat these almost like choreography in some sense hundreds and hundreds of times, you still have room for improvement,” Tochika said. The Nuʻuanu native is preparing for a special year-long intensive program in Kyoto this April.

Legislative honor

On February 15, the �鶹��ý House of Representatives held a special ceremony at the State Capitol to commemorate CJS’ Way of Tea Center, UH ����ԴDz� Way of Tea Club members, Jakuʻan’s 50th anniversary, and Tea Master Sen’s 100th birthday. After House Resolution 11 passed unanimously, Sen and CJS Director Mark Levin were presented with a recognition certificate signed by all of the House members.

Nearly 700 people participated in Nippon Culture Day, which returned to the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� campus this fall after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nippon (the Japanese word for Japan) Day is an annual event featuring an array of workshops providing high school and college students an opportunity to learn about Japanese culture.

On October 28, the celebration organized by the Japanese section of the (EALL)in the featured traditional and contemporary activities such as origami (paper folding), hanafuda (card game), calligraphy and tea ceremony.

The free event was held at the Campus Center Ballroom and the East-West Center’s Jaku’an Tea House. The and the co-sponsored the event aimed at providing students with a newfound knowledge of the historical roots and meaning behind the traditional Japanese arts and crafts.

• Related UH News story: Traditional Japanese tea house marks 50 years at UH ����ԴDz�, November 22, 2022

“Our university has been a premiere center for the study of Japan for the past one hundred years. In this sense, we see the Nippon Culture Day as a precious opportunity for learning and community building,” said Pier-Carlo Tommasi, a professor in the EALL department.

The , which was launched by UH to promote the development of a multilingual workforce, brought in Hawaiian Airlines and Outrigger to offer students career counseling and employment opportunities. Vice Consul Miho Sakai of the Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu also made a special appearance.

For the last half century, the has taught thousands of students the art of the Japanese tea ceremony inside a traditional tea house. The structure sits under sprawling trees within the picturesque , where you can hear the faint sound of a bubbling koi pond. The zen-like atmosphere helps to put students into a meditative mindset before entering Jaku’an, the name of the Japanese tea house, which means the “hut of tranquility.”

Related: Hidden gem restored for future generations, February 2015

The time-honored structure was erected in 1972, after Genshitsu Sen, a 15th generation grand tea master, commissioned the building of a chashitsu (authentic tea ceremony house) in �鶹��ý. First constructed in Japan and reassembled in �鶹��ý, Sen donated the structure to UH in an effort to carry out his life’s mission of fostering peace through the teaching of tea ceremony.

“The tea house is tranquil and separates us from our busy daily life, which allows us to self-reflect,” said Akiko Ono, a UH ����ԴDz� instructor who teaches the . “Through this beautiful art form, we learn to remain humble and be respectful to nature and one another.”

Way of Tea

The UH ����ԴDz� has offered the way of tea ceremony courses since the 1970s, enabling students to study the deeply respected practice and its role in the history and culture of Japan. Ono worked alongside the late Urasenke tea ceremony instructor Yoshibumi Ogawa, who mentored UH ����ԴDz� students inside the tatami (straw mat) lined structure for more than 40 years. Ono has since picked up the torch, passing down Ogawa’s knowledge and the deeply-layered tradition of Japanese tea.

“In tea gatherings, you see hospitality expressed in so many ways through so many things,” Ono explained. “I would like my students to take notice of the small things around them even if they seem insignificant at first, and learn to use their five senses thoroughly to appreciate what they experience every day.”

Gay Satsuma, associate director at the fondly recalls taking the campus’ Way of Tea in Japanese History and Culture course as an undergraduate student in the mid-1980’s.

“It was a wonderful experience to learn in an authentic tea house,” said Satsuma. “At that time, I had not yet visited Japan so that experience in Jaku’an was like a window into the culture.”

In 2015, Jaku’an celebrated a reopening after undergoing renovations funded by Sen.

CJS is part of the UH ����ԴDz� S in the .

Two recent donations were gifted to the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� ’s Asia Collection. The donations include 23 books through the by the Japan Science Society and a rare letter written by Sir Ernest Satow (1843–1929), a British scholar, diplomat and Asianist.

A delivery ceremony was held on December 16 for the Read Japan Project book donation, where Deputy Consul General Shinichi Yamanaka and Vice Consul Miho Sakai of the Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu, met with UH Librarian Clem Guthro, Japan Studies Librarian Tokiko Bazzell and Gay Satsuma, associate director of the Center for Japanese Studies, to present the books. The project’s mission is to promote the understanding of Japan around the world through English translations of Japanese books on topics such as history, literature and art.

“There are many interesting books about Japan written in Japanese, which benefit many, but not students and researchers who do not have a command in Japanese language,” said Bazzell. “We have many such people on campus. I truly appreciate the Read Japan Project to translate as many good books as possible to reach many readers to learn about Japan.”

Sir Ernest Satow’s letter was gifted to the library by Deborah Rudolph, wife of the late John Hawley. It was addressed to Tadatsuga Hanawa, the grandson of a well-known blind Edo period scholar, Hanawa Hokiichi, who compiled a massive set of historical Japanese documents and literature called . Satow’s letter thanked Tadatsuga for letting him borrow the set for a long time.

According to Rudolph, Frank Hawley treasured the letter, framed it and placed it on the wall of his study. When Frank’s son John Hawley and Deborah married, it was gifted to them, and John admired it until his death.

The letter was also gifted to the library to honor Bazzell, who will be retiring from the university at the end of December after 22 years of service. “I am so humbled and so grateful to Ms. Rudolph for this treasured gift to the library, which will become part of the Sakamaki/Hawley collection (in the Asia Collection),” said Bazzell.

• Related �鶹��ýNews story: Japan studies librarian honored with excellence award, October 26, 2021

Visit for more information on the Asia Collection.

These donations are examples of UH ����ԴDz�’s goal of (PDF) and (PDF), two of four goals identified in the 2015–25 �鶹��ý (PDF), updated in December 2020.

University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� Professor of Donald Reid Womack was named a 2020 Fellow of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. The is one of the major competitions for the arts and other fields.

Womack is among a diverse group of 175 writers, scholars, artists and scientists from the U.S. and Canada to receive the achievement. The candidates were chosen through a rigorous peer-review process from almost 3,000 applicants in the foundation’s ninety-sixth competition.

Womack plans to use the fellowship to write a geomungo (a plucked Korean instrument) concerto for virtuoso Yoon Jeong Heo.

“I’m thrilled and honored to have my work recognized and I am grateful for the support UH has provided, and especially for my wonderful colleagues in the music department,” said Womack. “It’s gratifying to see that our long-term efforts to build our music composition program are paying dividends, as we are now garnering international recognition for both our individual faculty members and our program itself.”

“I am thrilled that Professor Womack’s talents and accomplishments have been recognized nationally. It speaks to the excellence of our faculty and our music department,” said Peter Arnade, dean of the .

A professor of composition at UH ����ԴDz� since 1994, Womack also serves on the faculties of both the Center for Japanese Studies and . His music brings together a diverse range of ideas, reflecting various influences: his background as a native of the Southern Appalachians, his longtime home in �鶹��ý and his time spent in East Asia. He is the composer of nearly 100 works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, solo instruments and voice. Womack is widely recognized as a leader in intercultural composition and often integrates Asian and western instruments.

Womack’s music has been performed on six continents by the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony, Russia Ulan Ude Symphony, Changwon Philharmonic, National Orchestra of Korea, National Gugak Center Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra and Hong Kong New Music Ensemble, among many others. His works can be heard on numerous recordings, and he has lectured throughout the U.S., Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

“We in the music department are ecstatic at this news and look forward to celebrating when we are all back together,” said Larry Paxton, music department chair.