About Sen no Rikyu
"Sen no Rikyu" from Sakai City Museum
Sen no Rikyu (1522-1591), the founder of the Senke school of tea ceremony and known as the master of wabi-cha, was born into a merchant family in Sakai and spent most of his life there.
His given name was Yoshiro, his Buddhist name was Soeki, his Buddhist title was Hokensai, and he was awarded the title of Rikyu Koji by Emperor Ogimachi. He learned the tea ceremony from Takeno Joo, a wealthy merchant in Sakai, and served as tea master to the great rulers of Japan, Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
In particular, he served Hideyoshi as the head tea master, and was instrumental in holding tea ceremonies at the Imperial Palace and the Kitano Grand Tea Ceremony, earning him the title of "the greatest tea master in the world."
Fee for viewing
Fee for viewing | Individual | Group (10 people or more) |
|---|---|---|
Adults (including university students) | 300 yen | 240 yen |
A high school student | 200 yen | 160 yen |
Junior high school and younger | Free | Free |
*The above admission fee includes admission to both the museum and the Yosano Akiko Memorial Museum (2nd floor).
・Group rates for 10 people or more
・Admission to the permanent exhibition is free for people with disabilities and their caregivers, people aged 65 or older who live in Sakai City, and preschool children.
・Special exhibitions may incur additional admission fees.
・Admission to the permanent exhibition is free for people with disabilities and their caregivers, people aged 65 or older who live in Sakai City, and preschool children.
・Special exhibitions may incur additional admission fees.
Layout of the tea ceremony hall
Sen no Rikyu Tea Ceremony Hall - Layout
Highlights of the exhibition
1. "Rikyu and the people around Sakai"
Rikyu and the people around Sakai
We will introduce the people who were involved with Rikyu and the city of Sakai through images and audio.
The audio commentary on Rikyu is provided by Kabuki actor Ainosuke Kataoka, a Sakai native and Sakai Goodwill Ambassador.
You can also listen to audio commentary on Miyoshi Nagayoshi, Oda Nobunaga, and Francis Xavier.
2. "Sakai as seen in the Sumiyoshi Festival Screen"
Sakai as seen in the Sumiyoshi Festival Screen
It depicts the townspeople of Sakai marching in a procession as the portable shrine departs from Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine and arrives in the town of Sakai.
This is the only folding screen that shows the appearance of Sakai city in the early Edo period. By using digital technology, when you touch the touch panel, the shrines and merchant houses in the picture will be enlarged and a detailed explanation screen will appear.
3. "The world-famous Sakai moated city ruins"
Excavated ceramics
Sakai has 2moats that were excavated (in the mid-16th century and in 20) that surround the entire city, and the area inside the 20 moat is now considered to be the Sakai Moated City Ruins.
Trade ceramics and tea ceremony utensils such as Shino and Oribe that were excavated from the ruins are on display. (Exhibits may change.)
4. "Imagination of a tea room (floor area)"
Floor Comparison
The exhibition recreated the tea room that Rikyu built in the mansion in Imaichicho, Sakai, where he spent his youth, modeled after Takeno Jōō's tea room, and the tokonoma alcove, which he built in the Juraku mansion in Kyoto, where he spent his final years.
Through the differences in the arrangements and the display of related materials, you can see how Rikyu's originality transformed the tea ceremony, as well as the changes in the tea ceremony before and after Rikyu perfected wabi-cha.
5. "VR Corner"
On April 7, 2021, it was renovated as a VR space where you can experience the medieval townscape of Sakai.