head of a traditional school; iemoto; head family of a school
Refers to the hereditary head or grand master of a traditional Japanese art school (e.g., tea ceremony, flower arrangement, dance, music). Also used for the head family itself. The term iemoto is often used in English contexts discussing Japanese arts.
彼女は茶道の家元の娘です。
She is the daughter of the head of a tea ceremony school.
The iemoto system plays an important role in traditional Japanese performing arts.
She succeeded her father as the iemoto of the tea ceremony school.
The eldest son became the 20th-generation iemoto.