SOGETSU IKEBANA

From pre-Buddhist times, Japanese have used evergreen trees and flowers to invoke nature gods. Ikebana, the art of flower arrangement, first appeared in the Muromachi Period (late 14th to mid-16th century), alongside the tea ceremony, Noh plays, and garden design. With the Meiji period and modernization, Ikebana declined until the government mandated it as a standard part of women’s education, sparking its revival.

In 1927, Sofu Teshigahara recognized Ikebana as a creative art form and founded the Sogetsu School, breaking away from established forms. Today, the school is led by Akane Teshigahara, Sofu Teshigahara’s granddaughter. Sogetsu Ikebana can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere, using any material. It can adorn doorways, living rooms, kitchen tables, enhance hotel lobbies, banquet rooms, shop windows, and large public spaces, enriching any environment, whether Japanese or Western.

For more information, visit Sogetsu International at http://www.sogetsu.or.jp/e/.