Ohara Ikebana Workshop: New Year

About the Workshop

In this two hour workshop, you will create your own ikebana arrangement using seasonal materials that reflect the theme of the Japanese New Year. The piece follows a traditional flower style from the Ohara School of Ikebana, one of the largest ikebana schools with more than one hundred years of history.

The instructor will guide you through the structure of the flower form and demonstrate how to handle each material. You will learn to work with a shallow water basin and a kenzan to build the Ikebana arrangement, as well as how to refine and enhance the final form.

At the end of the workshop, you may take the flowers home and practice creating a new arrangement on your own.

All flowers, tools and supplies are provided, so you do not need to bring anything. No prior experience is required, and beginners are warmly welcomed.

* Please note that the flowers and materials used in the workshop may be adjusted according to market availability.

Japanese Ikebana for New Year

New Year, or Shōgatsu, is one of the most significant celebrations in Japan. In ikebana arrangements for this season, people traditionally use auspicious materials such as pine, bamboo and plum (Shō Chiku Bai). Red and white flowers are also common because these colors express joy and good fortune. With evergreen leaves and unique winter materials, the arrangement is placed to welcome the new year with wishes for prosperity, health and lasting happiness.

About Ohara School

The Ohara School of Ikebana is one of the oldest and most influential ikebana schools in Japan. It was founded in 1895 by Unshin Ohara, who developed the original “moribana” style, which uses wide, shallow containers and combines classical Ikebana techniques with natural materials from around the world. A key focus of Ohara-ryū is capturing the natural growth of plants and reflecting the spirit of the landscape within the container.

Learning Ohara Ikebana is more than just arranging flowers. It is a calm and mindful practice that helps you connect with nature and become aware of the subtle changes in the seasons and life around you.

About the Instructor

Amanda Fu is a certified professor of the Ohara School of Ikebana and currently serves as the Vice President of the Vancouver Ikebana Association. With six years of study and practice in Ohara-ryu, she teaches Ikebana classes at Mizuki Floral Studio and has extensive experience in both instruction and creative work.

Amanda’s arrangements have been showcased at various cultural and public events, and she has been invited by the Consulate-General of Japan in Vancouver to exhibit her work. She has also hosted Ikebana workshops themed around the seasons, nature, and Japanese festivals, sharing Ikebana’s beauty and philosophy with the local community.

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Host or Publisher Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre