The Unlimited Creative Possibilities of Modern Japanese Ikebana
A modern ikebana flower arrangement of nerines. Arranged in a shattered glass vase, it emphasizes the vitality of the flowers and expresses the brilliance of a living organism that cannot be contained. (Photo by munehide IDA, courtesy of maki AKAGI)
Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. By arranging flowers and other plants, ikebana artists create beauty and bring the elegance of nature into the home. Let’s learn where this Japanese tradition came from, and where it is heading in the future.
The Unique Beauty of Ikebana
Ikebana differs from Western-style flower arrangement not just in the minute rules about what plants and materials are allowed to be used, but also in its underlying philosophy. Whereas many Western flower arrangement traditions can be thought of as processes of addition—the more flowers, the better—ikebana artists tend to think of their work as a process of subtraction. In ikebana, the negative space is just as important as the positive space, so ikebana artists put great thought into how they can express beauty with less. It is an example of the aesthetic taste for minimalism that can be found throughout many traditional Japanese art forms, from painting to architecture to tea ceremony.
Ikebana is a process of subtraction. Ikebana artists use flowers and branches to create a composition of forms and lines where the negative space is just as important as the positive space. (Photos courtesy of maki AKAGI)
Schools and Styles
Since the earliest days, philosophies and techniques regarding ikebana have varied, and so different ikebana schools emerged across Japan. Today there are over 300 such schools, each teaching their own version of the art of ikebana. Out of the various schools emerged a number of distinct ikebana styles. These traditional styles follow set patterns and can have many rules to learn. For example, Rikka, the oldest style, aims to express the beauty of natural landscapes. Shoka arrangements have a triangular composition, with the three points of the triangle representing heaven, earth, and mankind. Moribana arrangements are wider and shallower, generally featuring dense, mound-like compositions and a visible water surface at the base.
Left: Rikka arrangements aim to express the beauty of natural landscapes. They are the oldest form of ikebana. (©Ikenobo Headquarters)
Middle: Shoka arrangements have a triangular composition made up of three main components. According to some schools of thought, the tallest component represents heaven, the middle component represents mankind, and the lowest component represents earth. (©Ikenobo Headquarters)
Right: Moribana arrangements are wider and shallower, generally featuring dense, mound-like compositions and a visible water surface at the base. (Photo courtesy of OHARA SCHOOL OF IKEBANA)
Top: Rikka arrangements aim to express the beauty of natural landscapes. They are the oldest form of ikebana. (©Ikenobo Headquarters)
Middle: Shoka arrangements have a triangular composition made up of three main components. According to some schools of thought, the tallest component represents heaven, the middle component represents mankind, and the lowest component represents earth. (©Ikenobo Headquarters)
Bottom: Moribana arrangements are wider and shallower, generally featuring dense, mound-like compositions and a visible water surface at the base. (Photo courtesy of OHARA SCHOOL OF IKEBANA)
Breaking the Mold
The Meiji period (1868-1912 AD) was a time of rapid modernization and Westernization for Japan that exposed Japanese people to many new things, including foreign materials, foreign ideas, and even foreign flowers. Some ikebana artists desired to incorporate these new ideas and materials into their works. The Ohara school was one of the first to break from traditional forms with the introduction of the Moribana style, which allowed Western flowers to be incorporated. Later, the Sogetsu school was founded to liberate ikebana even further. In the Sogetsu school, artists were not bound by set forms or patterns, and the contexts in which ikebana could be enjoyed were expanded greatly. These ideas spread outside the Sogetsu school and formed a new category of ikebana called “Jiyuuka,” meaning “free flowers.” Today, artists from throughout the ikebana world practice Jiyuuka, experimenting freely with themes, compositions, and materials. Some ikebana artists even incorporate non-plant materials into their Jiyuuka arrangements, such as metal and glass.
Left: An arrangement by the headmaster of the Sogetsu school. Featuring sunflowers and monstera, it is themed around the month of August. (Photo by Chukyo Ozawa, courtesy of Sogetsu Foundation)
Middle: This large-scale arrangement by the headmaster of the Sogetsu school features a glowing washi paper lantern that resembles the kanji character for “kokoro” or “heart.” Many Jiyuuka pieces incorporate non-plant materials. (Photo by Kozo Sekiya, courtesy of Sogetsu Foundation)
Right: In another large-scale piece, the headmaster of the Sogetsu school uses blackened wisteria vine in a nod to Japanese India ink calligraphy and painting. Also featured are pomegranate, winterberry, polyantha rose, Japanese winterberry, and Japanese mahonia. (Photo by Kozo Sekiya, courtesy of Sogetsu Foundation)
Top: An arrangement by the headmaster of the Sogetsu school. Featuring sunflowers and monstera, it is themed around the month of August. (Photo by Chukyo Ozawa, courtesy of Sogetsu Foundation)
Middle: This large-scale arrangement by the headmaster of the Sogetsu school features a glowing washi paper lantern that resembles the kanji character for “kokoro” or “heart.” Many Jiyuuka pieces incorporate non-plant materials. (Photo by Kozo Sekiya, courtesy of Sogetsu Foundation)
Bottom: In another large-scale piece, the headmaster of the Sogetsu school uses blackened wisteria vine in a nod to Japanese India ink calligraphy and painting. Also featured are pomegranate, winterberry, polyantha rose, Japanese winterberry, and Japanese mahonia. (Photo by Kozo Sekiya, courtesy of Sogetsu Foundation)
Left: A Jiyuuka arrangement using azaleas. Inspired by large trees that live for over a thousand years, the artist chose to use a system of stilts instead of a traditional vase in order to emphasize the form of the “tree.” With Jiyuuka, the artist is free to explore different forms, themes, and materials. (Photo courtesy of maki AKAGI)
Right: A Jiyuuka arrangement featuring hydrangeas and Japanese mizuhiki rice paper cord. Instead of a traditional vase, the hydrangeas have been arranged in exposed concrete in order to express the idea of learning from the past. Hydrangeas have long been used in Japan to ward off evil. (Photo courtesy of maki AKAGI)
Top: A Jiyuuka arrangement using azaleas. Inspired by large trees that live for over a thousand years, the artist chose to use a system of stilts instead of a traditional vase in order to emphasize the form of the “tree.” With Jiyuuka, the artist is free to explore different forms, themes, and materials. (Photo courtesy of maki AKAGI)
Bottom: A Jiyuuka arrangement featuring hydrangeas and Japanese mizuhiki rice paper cord. Instead of a traditional vase, the hydrangeas have been arranged in exposed concrete in order to express the idea of learning from the past. Hydrangeas have long been used in Japan to ward off evil. (Photo courtesy of maki AKAGI)
Ikebana’s Place in Modern Japanese Society
Though its origins trace back hundreds or even thousands of years, ikebana continues to thrive in modern Japanese society, and in fact has risen in popularity over the last several decades. After-school ikebana clubs are common at Japanese junior high schools, high schools, and colleges. Ikebana schools offer community classes for aspiring enthusiasts all over Japan. Ikebana can often be viewed at gallery exhibitions, or on display at Japanese department stores where they help draw in shoppers. They can also be found enhancing the atmosphere at Japanese ceremonies, parties, and hotels and restaurants.
Left: At a Japanese high school ikebana club, students show off their creations. (Photo courtesy of Ritsumeikan Uji Senior High School)
Right: Ikebana schools offer community classes for adults all over Japan. (©Ikenobo Headquarters)
Top: At a Japanese high school ikebana club, students show off their creations. (Photo courtesy of Ritsumeikan Uji Senior High School)
Bottom: Ikebana schools offer community classes for adults all over Japan. (©Ikenobo Headquarters)
Left: Ikebana arrangements on display at Japanese department stores help draw in shoppers. (Photo courtesy of Saga Goryu)
Right: A grand ikebana arrangement displayed in the entrance lobby of a hotel in Tokyo. It features bamboo, paulownia, Citrus natsudaidai, Unshiu orange, Japanese bittersweet, and lily-of-the-valley. (Photo courtesy of Sogetsu Foundation)
Top: Ikebana arrangements on display at Japanese department stores help draw in shoppers. (Photo courtesy of Saga Goryu)
Bottom: A grand ikebana arrangement displayed in the entrance lobby of a hotel in Tokyo. It features bamboo, paulownia, Citrus natsudaidai, Unshiu orange, Japanese bittersweet, and lily-of-the-valley. (Photo courtesy of Sogetsu Foundation)
Expanding the Possibilities of Ikebana With Technology
Today, artists and engineers are further expanding the ikebana world by embracing new technologies. Let’s look at some of the ways people are using technology to push the boundaries of ikebana while preserving its essential aspects.
One Japanese company has created virtual reality ikebana software. By putting on a headset, users can enter a virtual Japanese tearoom and practice ikebana under the guidance of a master from the Sogetsu school. The experience was exhibited at the SXSW Trade Show in America. The developers hope their software will help make ikebana more accessible for people in other countries and people with disabilities.
Left: By wearing a VR headset and holding a VR controller in each hand, users can enter a virtual Japanese tearoom and pick up and place flowers in 3D space. (Photo courtesy of BBmedia Inc.)
Right: A view of the 3D space seen through the VR headset. Users are introduced to concepts such as shin-soe-hikae, which refer to the longest, second longest, and shortest branch in an ikebana arrangement, and represent heaven, mankind, and earth, respectively. (Photo courtesy of BBmedia Inc.)
Top: By wearing a VR headset and holding a VR controller in each hand, users can enter a virtual Japanese tearoom and pick up and place flowers in 3D space. (Photo courtesy of BBmedia Inc.)
Bottom: A view of the 3D space seen through the VR headset. Users are introduced to concepts such as shin-soe-hikae, which refer to the longest, second longest, and shortest branch in an ikebana arrangement, and represent heaven, mankind, and earth, respectively. (Photo courtesy of BBmedia Inc.)
Another Japanese company has developed an MR or “mixed reality” ikebana experience. The technology was shown off at a live performance in Seattle, Washington, where the headmaster of the Ohara school combined real and virtual materials on stage to create ikebana arrangements inspired by Seattle scenery such as Mount Rainier.
At a live stage performance in Seattle, Washington, Hiroki Ohara, the headmaster of the Ohara school, wears a “mixed reality” headset to create a large-scale ikebana piece that combines real and virtual elements. (Photos courtesy of Nangok R/Studios)
At Nijo Castle in Kyoto, an annual art event combines the beauty of flowers and ikebana with various forms of digital art, such as projection mapping. A collaboration with the ikebana group “Ikenobo,” the Fall 2023 event featured a path of flowers and light lined with arrangements created by Ikenobo artists. It also featured a collaborative piece in which visitors were invited to add their own glowing flower to a giant ikebana arrangement that lit up the night.
Left: A path of flowers and light was lined with ikebana arrangements created by artists from the “Ikenobo” group. (©naked inc)
Middle: By standing in front of this interactive projection piece, a virtual flower arrangement is automatically generated for each visitor, along with an explanation of its meaning. (©naked inc)
Right: This piece invites visitors to light up the night by adding their own glowing flower to a giant collaborative ikebana arrangement. (©naked inc)
Top: A path of flowers and light was lined with ikebana arrangements created by artists from the “Ikenobo” group. (©naked inc)
Middle: By standing in front of this interactive projection piece, a virtual flower arrangement is automatically generated for each visitor, along with an explanation of its meaning. (©naked inc)
Bottom: This piece invites visitors to light up the night by adding their own glowing flower to a giant collaborative ikebana arrangement. (©naked inc)
As technology evolves and new ideas spread, we can be sure that ikebana will continue to change. With unlimited possibilities, we can only wait and see how this artistic tradition will develop in the future.