{"id":224659,"date":"2025-10-30T11:05:51","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T21:05:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=224659"},"modified":"2025-10-30T16:59:02","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T02:59:02","slug":"japan-consulate-honors-manoa-cjs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/10\/30\/japan-consulate-honors-manoa-cjs\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan Consulate honors UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa Center for Japanese Studies, Way of Tea"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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CJS<\/abbr> members and friends with Japanese Consul-General Kodama.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu honored the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa\u2019s Center for Japanese Studies<\/a> (CJS<\/abbr>) and our Way of Tea Club<\/a> with the Commendation of the Consul General, recognizing the lasting impact they contribute to Japan-Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> relations and cultural understanding.<\/p>\n

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CJS<\/abbr> Director Mark Levin receives commendation certificate from Japanese Consul-General Kodama.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

CJS<\/abbr>, founded in 1986, has been a driving force in advancing Japanese studies across UH<\/abbr>. 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.<\/p>\n

“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<\/abbr>\u2019s remarkable strength in language and cultural instruction,” said Mark Levin, director of CJS<\/abbr> and a professor at UH<\/abbr>\u2019s Richardson Law School.<\/p>\n

Former CJS<\/abbr> 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\u2019s national reputation and global reach.<\/p>\n

Preserving Chad\u014d<\/h2>\n

The UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa Way of Tea Club was also recognized for its work preserving and teaching the Urasenke Chad\u014d tradition, a refined practice of preparing and serving Japanese tea. Beyond its ritual, Chad\u014d embodies the values of harmony, respect, purity and tranquility that have influenced Japanese art, architecture, philosophy and business.<\/p>\n

Consul General Yoshinori Kodama praised the Center and the club for its dedication to bridging Japan and Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>. He also paid tribute to the late Dais\u014dsh\u014d Genshitsu Sen, the 15th-generation Grand Master of Urasenke, whose guidance deeply shaped both organizations.<\/p>\n

Accepting the commendation on behalf of the club was UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa lecturer and Way of Tea instructor Akiko Ono, who continues to share the spirit of Chad\u014d with a new generation of students.<\/p>\n

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Some members of the Â鶹´«Ã½<\/abbr> Manoa Way of Tea Club with instructor Akiko Ono (fourth from right).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Center for Japanese Studies has grown out of more than a century of Japanese language and culture instruction at UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":224655,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[776,1463,1466,9],"class_list":["post-224659","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-center-for-japanese-studies","tag-japanese-studies","tag-manoa-enhancing-student-success","tag-uh-manoa","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t