Category Archives: Noh no Ikebana

I began Noh no Ikebana in 2016. It’s a beginner-friendly hobby as it has no rigid rule. I decided to make the new challenge when I saw my grandmother-in-law’s favorite plum tree bore fruit. It reminded me of her face and how gentle she was to me. While making the arrangement, I discovered a new side of myself, and since then, this is my favorite hobby. I make my arrangement often in mid-summer when we have not many flowers around. I put my arrangements at my entrance, and my visitors love them very much and say they are lovely. This time, I combined chrysanthemum, a favorite flower of my grandmother-in-law, … Continue reading →

“I made my first Noh no Ikebana arrangement almost ten years ago when I saw one of my friends in my neighborhood started to post photos of her artworks. In my first arrangement, I remember, I used red and white flowering kale and white Japanese daikon radish and put them in a big shallow ball called sawachi, which we use for local dishes. Since then, I’m having fun making arrangements on my own, using unique materials such as funny-shaped sprouting Konjac and a monster daikon radish. In Noh no Ikebana, I can express my imagination freely, and that’s why I like it very much. The theme of this arrangement is … Continue reading →

“I began learning ikebana in my twenties. Since then, it’s my hobby. I’m a farmer, so I use wildflowers, green items from the mountains as well as agricultural products and tools. I put my arrangements at the entrance to welcome my guests. Or I sometimes have them displayed at the local festivals. When I make an arrangement, I start by thinking about a story. I enjoy the most when I’m thinking about tools and flowers, places, and themes. Making notes and drawings is also helpful in creating an arrangement which is close to your image. I always place importance on “subtracting.” I try to hold my temptation to show all … Continue reading →

Height gap can give arrangement depth. “I began Noh no Ikebana more than 20 years ago. The best part of Noh no Ikebana for vegetable farmers is how we can create arrangements with vegetables we grow and flowers in the fields. We can’t sell veggies in irregular shapes and sizes, but they look just brilliant in the arrangements. My friends and I go to many places to host exhibitions and events for beginners, which gave me valuable experiences. I think it’s an ageless hobby, and I want to continue enjoying it for as long as possible. I made this arrangement “Spring is here” with Setsuko Saito (69), a friend from … Continue reading →

“The good thing about Noh no Ikebana is that we can enjoy it with free ideas. It’s not just fun. It gives me new insights as I work together with friends. We show vegetables and flowers and ask each other questions, like when I should plant them or how we can cook them. I learn from others about vegetables I don’t grow or cook at home. The theme of this arrangement is “Look; I found the spring!” The materials are vegetables and flowers in early spring. Field mustard, Chinese citrons, and mimosa in spring colors are doing a great job. We used the roots of vegetables and branches of flowers … Continue reading →