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Ikebana - Traditional Japanese Culture

Yuki Ikenobo

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Common bonds between Iceland and Japan

■Island nations surrounded by oceans and have many volcanoes

■Many hot springs

■Two tectonic plates on which Iceland lies meet again beneath Japan

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Historical Background between Iceland and Japan

■Diplomatic relations established in 1956. Embassies opened in 2001.

■A Japanese Language and Culture Course established at Iceland University in 2003. Japan Festival held since 2004.

■Japan and Iceland play a leading world role in geothermal energy use

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Ceremony for Appointment as Honorary Consul of Iceland

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Traditional Japanese Culture

・ Chanoyu (Tea ceremony), Ikebana, Kimono

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Japanese Contemporary Culture

・ Manga, Anime (Animation), - - the Culture of “Kawaii (Cuteness)”

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Rokkakudo Temple － The Birth Place of Ikebana

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Priests arranging flowers

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The beginnings of Ikebana - “Mitsugusoku kazari” (a set of three ceremonial objects)

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1542: The “Senno Kuden” teaches the spirit and essence of Kado

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Opening Passage of “Senno Kuden”

I have heard that from ancient timesPeople filled vases with flowers.

But that was mere enjoyment of beautywithout appreciating the deeper essence of flowers and plants,

a simple placing of stems in a vase.In Ikenobo, however,

the original forms of plants of field, mountain, and pondare expressed in ikebana using both flowers and leaves, showing our impression of the inner essence of plants.

This tradition begun by our ancestors,is now enjoyed both far, and wide.

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Yasunari Kawabata – Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature

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Flower shops in Japan

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Japanese residential environment - Tokonoma

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Reproduction of a Large Sunanomono Rikka Arrangement at the Maeda Residence in 1564 (7.2 meters wide)

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Natural light

Reflected light

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Ikenobo ‘s three styles of arranging

① 　 Rikka

② 　 Shoka

③　 Free Style

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① 　 Rikka

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① 　 Rikka

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② 　 Shoka

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② 　 Shoka

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② 　 Shoka

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③Free Style

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③　 Free Style

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Important teachings of Ikenobo

①　 The use of odd numbers

② 　 Mizugiwa

③　 Past-Present, Long-distance View 　　　　　 and a Near-distance View 　　　 (Background – Foreground)

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Ikenobo around the World

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“Arranging with wishes for peace” Hiroshima Peace Art Exhibition