The Doshinokai Foundation is focused on promoting and learning The “Do” (or way of), the beauty and spirituality behind the Japanese Cultural Heritage Arts, such as Ikebana (Kado) – the way of flower arrangement; Sado – the Art of Tea, Shodo – Japanese Calligraphy (Particularly Abe Sensei’s Shodo arts); and Kojiki and Kotodama. The Foundation will also help people learn about the traditional Japanese healing arts of Misogi, Sotai, and Macrobiotics. There are so many Japanese Cultural Heritage arts, but what they all share is their simplicity, societal influence, the dedication of their historical originators and influence of their modern practitioners.

The main focus of these arts is to enhance one’s appreciation of nature and to clarify one’s own place in the environment. Furthermore, the characteristic of all these arts is that mind, body and spirit become integrated through a flower, a cup of tea, or brush to express the essential nature of each subject.  By promoting the beauty, spirituality and simplicity behind these cultural arts, we can seek the true state of nature, calmness in one’s mind.  We can receive rejuvenated power and as a result we can give inspiration to the people in our community. This is the main idea and purpose of The Doshinokai Foundation.

Haruo Matsuoka
President