Nisei Week Ikabana Exhibition, Aug. 18-19

Cultural News, August 2007

Ikenobo style ikebana

  As a part of the 67th Nisei Week Festival events in Little Tokyo, The Nanka Ikabana Kyojukai (Southern California Ikebana Teachers Guild) presents the Flower Arrangement Exhibition on Saturday, August 18 and Sunday, August 19, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Doizaki Gallery in the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, 244 South San Pedro Street, CA 90012.

   20 instructors of Ikenobo, Sogetsu, and Ohara schools will exhibit their works. Ikenobo instructors are: Mikami Kouka, Shimbashi Shunho, Okamoto Kogetsu, Arimura Seihu, Kakimoto Seisui, Sugita Shunsei, Ogawa Jyusui, Akamatsu Ritsugetsu, Chen Rei Zui, and Yan Tina Futing. Sogetsu instructors are: Okinaka Shunyo, Kitajima Yokou, Takeichi Gyokushun, Kassarjian Shunkei, Yasuda Toushun, Kurata Koho, McComick Keiyo, Arano Gyokusen, and Kujiraoka Bokuho. Ohara instructor is Kobayashi Omihoyu.

  Origin of ikebana was considered as the offering of flowers to the Buddha. In the sixth century in Japan, when Buddhism was brought to Japan, the custom of dedicating  flowers came with it. It was this custom that developed into the art of ikebana.

  Since the beginning of ikebana, the practitioners of the art were mainly male. However, a sweeping change occurred when the Meiji government (1868-1912) adopted ikebana as part of the curriculum for girls’ education. Ikebana was regarded as a female social grace before marriage until the 1960s.