Nothing occurs in isolation..

We are one of the whole and part of nature… We cannot understand art, especially Ikebana or flower arrangement, without developing our own vision seeing as a part of the whole even if it’s just a simple figure.

You must enjoy the senses such as, seeing, smelling, and feeling if you want to experience Ikebana (Kado) or Japanese flower arrangement, one of Japan’s Cultural Heritage Arts. In order to understand fully, you need to spend time in that space. You must expand the capacity of your ability to grasp what it is. You must develop your vision which will be able to capture the view from a three dimensional space, that is okuyuki o miru, or to watch or perceive depth. Through understanding, seeking, and experiencing, we will be able to develop such ability. And all is to enhance one’s appreciation towards nature, as well as to clarify one’s own place in the environment.

I’ve never learned Ikebana in my life nor have I had any experience. However, I have a few experiences about some flowers that left an impression in my life. Let me share one of them. There was a moment I saw one small dandelion which looked steadfast and full of vitality comparing to other flowers and plants in that area. It gave me a kind of energy.. I recall that moment..

It was 22 years ago. When I was in Okinawa (an island), one time I was challenging the full marathon (26 miles) there.. Towards the end of running the marathon, I burned out completely when I came back to the athletic field where the marathon’s starting and finishing line was. I had ran on the streets by the beautiful ocean (the water was very clear and it was a sea of emerald green), gentle hill and the field of sugarcane (Sugarcane is everywhere in this island.), and ran through the US military base as well (Also US military base are everywhere on this beautiful island. They allowed people to enter only for the marathon event. Nice😊). And after running through all the areas, I came back to the finish line at the athletic field. I was so exhausted..

Right before finishing the goal, I happened to see a tiny dandelion on the grass. I was gazing at the tiny flower for a few seconds. The tiny flower looked vital and so dynamic to me. I remember it gave me energy (just a quick moment) and a kind of encouragement. I probably wouldn’t have such feeling if I see the same flower at the same place or in my daily life now, but at that moment, although it was just a tiny flower, it was splendid!

In the Japanese aesthetic consciousness, there is an idea of having harmony with nature. So there are waza or techniques to create such atmosphere.

The characteristic of Japanese cultural arts, such as Ikebana, is in here, which means to have no value if they are taken alone. They only gain their full meaning when they are placed in a field. It doesn’t matter if it’s alive or dying.. It’s all in beauty.. And it gives us tranquility and a peaceful mind, where the vital energy exists in one’s life. That is universe, giving us creative energy.. There are techniques that have been created in Ikebana (Kado). This is how I understand the way of what we should seek from this Cultural Heritage Art. Enjoy the moment with your whole body and life… And become one with the nature.

If we will be able to apply this concept in our daily lives, how do our lives become precious and meaningful?

The idea of original Ikebana was found when Buddhism came to Japan in the 6th Century. And it was established in the 16th Century during the Muromachi period (before Edo) as the Do. The name of the traditional school was Ikenobo. One of our students have learned there for many years. And she is preparing on sharing the art of Ikebana with us in our event..

There are so many traditional Japanese art forms with sharing the same concept besides Ikebana, such as Cha-no-yu, Shodo Calligraphy…, Koto, Taiko.. and healing arts.. We’d like to introduce and give you the opportunity to learn each art through our event. We can transport our minds each time to a different time and space.. As a result, you may come to find thousands of realms in your heart 😊

Please join our event!

~Haruo Matsuoka