Background
Yamada Sōyū was born on August 23, 1866, in Tokyo, the capital of Japan. Master of tea ceremony. His real personal name was Torajiro.
山田 宗有
Businessman Master of tea ceremony
Yamada Sōyū was born on August 23, 1866, in Tokyo, the capital of Japan. Master of tea ceremony. His real personal name was Torajiro.
Yamada Sōyū graduated from Yokohama School of English and Japanese.
When Turkish warship was shipwrecked off Wakayama Prefecture, he visited Turkey with donation for relief of victims. During his stay in that country Yamada served as instructor of the Japanese language of Military Academy and adviser of Oriental Section of National Museum. At request of Turkish Government, Yamada Sōyū initiated trade relations between Japan and Turkey. He also served as honorary consul in Greece.
After returning in 1900 founded a company for manufacture of cigarette paper. Also he was appointed managing director of Toyo (Oriental) Paper Manufacturing Company and Mishima Paper Manufacturing Company. Yamada became Sōhen VIII by succeeding to this celebrated title of master of tea ceremony in 1932.
Sōyū's real father was Nakamura Yūzaemon, but at the age of 15 he was adopted by Sōju Yamada who was 7th head master of Sōhen school.