In her speech, delivered on the occasion of this ceremony, the Director-General renewed her gratitude to Dr Genshitsu Sen, for his commitment to peace, for carrying and embodying UNESCO’s message across the world. “In times of rapid change, peace must be a spirit that is carried by each of us. It must be an everyday reality, expressed in gestures of respect and understanding towards others, towards the planet. This vision finds embodiment in CHADO, the Japanese Way of Tea, and it finds a master in Dr Sen Genshitsu” said the Director-General in her speech.

Ambassador Sato also paid tribute in her speech to Dr Sen’s outstanding contribution to peace and culture through the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. She also recalled Dr Sen’s dedication to the ideals and goals of UNESCO.

Dr Genshitsu Sen was designated as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in March 2012. In this capacity he conducted a tea ceremony, on the occasion of the commemoration of the first anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2012, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention in November 2012 in Kyoto, during the World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development, at Aichi Nagoya, in November 2014 and at the Headquarters of the United Nations on the International Day of Peace, on 21 September 2015.

His Excellency Mr Mohamed Sameh Amr, Chairperson of the UNESCO Executive Board, Ms Hedva Ser, Mr Eijin Nimura, UNESCO Artists for Peace, and other personalities also attended this ceremony.

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• Photo gallery:  Tea ceremony at UNESCO Headquarters