Ikebana!

A few months ago, after the Mid-Year Seminar where we took part in a few cultural activities, me and a friend who lives in the neighbouring town wanted to try our hand at some Ikebana, Japanese flower arranging. Unfortunately for one reason or another - it wasn't possible until January to start, but we really enjoy it now. One of Rebecca's teachers found an Ikebana teacher in her city and we go every Thursday evening. The teacher, Murayama Sensei, is THE nicest -Japanese person we have met in our Japanese life. He is a very softly spoken, smiling person. He can't speak much English, except for 'Thank You, Goodbye, Hello' (and a little later he had the confidence to say 'Very Good' to us!) but otherwise the lessons work as both a Japanese lesson and an Ikebana lesson!
We go to his little flower shop and there is just me and Rebecca in the lesson which is great because we have plenty of time to work out what he is explaining. He begins by drawing a picture on the board and explaining the rules and philosophies of the school of Ikebana that he teachers. These are all like aesthetic rules and principles, for example having stems and branches curve upwards to the sky, rather than bend downwards to the floor. A focus is always important, and you must always have a strong foundation in the form of 'sen', typically three tall and straight flowers or branches that shoot straight up within the composition. Then we get down to creating the drawing with the flowers he prepares for us, and he adjusts it afterwards and explains better ways of doing things. Following what he teaches us about our first arrangements, we have to pull it all down, and do it again!

Often times we don't quite understand the whole jist of what he's saying, I do quite well understanding, and for the bits I don't I act confident enough to try and pretend I do (which is usually blown by Rebecca saying 'What is he saying?', after which I reply saying '...I don't know!')

But the lesson are very quiet and relaxing, and we often have quite a laugh between the three of us, Rebecca usually laughing at at least one of the types of flowers he provides us, or collectively we laugh at the various attempts to make a nice looking Ikebana arrangement!

The more you know however, the more difficult it gets, but the final arrangements are typically beautiful. Unfortunately, our Japanese classes have started up again now that spring is here, and our teacher only teaches on the same day as our Japanese lessons, so we have to finish them at the end of March, but maybe next year we'll start up again!

This is the first 'freestyle' design was made. A circular composition with roses as the focus point.

One of my favourite arrangements we made. In the 'Shoka' style.

Another favourite of mine with a Autumn/Spring blended theme to it! The branches shoot around the daffodils to encase and protect them.

We worked with some beautiful tulips all the way from Shizuoka prefecture near Tokyo!