Ikebana Koryu Association Exhibition 2025 – Tokyo Nippori Sunny Hall Report

Ikebana Koryu Association Exhibition 2025

Ikebana exhibitions held in Tokyo and across Japan are special occasions where Ikebana artists present the result of their continuous discipline and training.Standing in front of each work, you can feel not only the energy of the plant materials but also the intention and mastery of the creator.

As an Ikebana artist of the Ryusei-ha school, I regularly participate in exhibitions and also visit many shows to study different approaches to Shoka (classical Ikebana) and Free-style Ikebana.This report is written for anyone interested in Ikebana—whether you are practicing it as a hobby, considering joining an Ikebana school, or simply curious about traditional Japanese arts.

This time, I visited the Ikebana Koryu Association Exhibition 2025.

What Is “Koryu Ikebana”?

Koryu is one of the oldest Ikebana lineages in Japan, originating in the early Edo period.Over the long history of Japanese flower arrangement, the Koryu tradition branched into many associated schools, all of which value:

• Respect for natural forms

• Emphasis on the “line” and “life force” of each branch

• Aesthetic simplicity and spiritual quietness

The fundamental structure of Shoka (traditional classical Ikebana) is based on three symbolic elements:

• Shin (Heaven)

• Soe / Nagashi (Human)

• Tai / Uke (Earth)

This triad expresses the harmony of nature within one composition.Today, many masters and certified teachers continue to present both classical and contemporary works under the Koryu name.

This explanation is a simplified summary based on publicly available information.

Ikebana Koryu Association Exhibition 2025

• Dates:Front Session: Oct 3–4, 2025Second Session: Oct 5–6, 2025

• Venue: Nippori Sunny Hall Art Hotel (Tokyo, Nippori)

• Participating Schools:Koryu Katabami-kai, Koryu Kayou-kai, Koryu Shouou-kai,Koryu Shosei-kai, Koryu Shousen-kai, Koryu Shoutou-kai,Koryu Shouhou-kai, Koryu Shoureikai, Koryu Taikan-ryu, and others.

  
  

I visited the first session for study purposes.Although I wished to see the second session as well, this time I focused only on the first day’s displays.

My own Ryusei-ha training studio is located in Nippori, so I often visit exhibitions here before my lessons to “tune my mind” and sharpen my senses.It has become a small routine I enjoy.

Venue: Nippori Sunny Hall – Perfect for Ikebana Displays

▶ The ceiling height is suitable for flower arrangement displays

The exhibition venue is also used for the Ryusei-ha Tokyo 6th District Exhibition, and it is especially suitable for Ikebana due to its high ceiling and vertical openness.

In Ikebana—both Shoka and Free-style—the upward energy is essential:

• Works should appear to “rise toward the sky”

• Space must allow the plants to breathe

• Light should fall naturally across the lines

This venue enhances all of these qualities.I have exhibited here three times, and each time I feel the importance of letting the work “stand alive” in the space.

Shoka: Exceptional Classical Compositions

Koryu Shoka works display an unmistakable sense of discipline and refined precision.Classical Ikebana requires careful decisions about:

• The main branch (Shin)

• Supporting branches (Soe and Tai)

• Balance and angles

• Front–back depth

• Waterline and base structure

• The personality of the plant materials

  
  

From the perspective of a Ryusei-ha practitioner, Koryu Shoka has a unique “strict natural elegance” that strongly reflects the artist’s hands and decisions.

▶ Use of Seasonal Materials

This exhibition showcased a variety of autumn materials such as:

• Ibuki / Juniper

• Aster

• Fan Palm / Livistona

• Aspidistra (leaf plant)

• Kōyamaki (Sciadopitys)

• Loquat branches

• Turk’s cap vine (Tsuru-umemodoki)

• Driftwood and lichen branches

The deep greens of early autumn and occasional vivid red accents created beautiful contrasts.

Seeing how different masters handled Maki (槙) was particularly inspiring, as I had just practiced using it in my own lessons.

▶ Quiet Intensity Within Structure

Classical Ikebana may look still and silent, but within that stillness lies intense discipline.

• The tension of the lines

• The direction of growth¥

• The grounded stability of the base

When these elements come together, the entire space tightens with beauty.

Each work in this exhibition carried the weight of accumulated training.

Free-Style Ikebana by Master-Level Artists

In contrast to the strict forms of Shoka, the free-style works by Koryu masters were powerful and expressive.

The compositions broke through traditional boundaries while still respecting underlying principles.

Materials included:

• Kiwi vines

• Mountain grape vines

• Large driftwood forms

• Strong red Celosia (Cockscomb)

• Non-plant elements

Many pieces had a dynamic, sculptural quality reminiscent of postwar avant-garde Ikebana, with energy that cannot be captured by photographs alone.

▶ Lighting Enhances the Presence of the Works

The high ceiling allowed light to fall beautifully onto the lines and textures.

This created dramatic shadows and amplified the three-dimensional form of each free-style composition.

Learning from Differences Between Schools

One of the main reasons I visit exhibitions is to study the differences in angles, branch control, and spatial structure among different schools.

Even when schools share the same “Heaven–Human–Earth” structure, the philosophy behind the angles, curves, and base shaping varies significantly.

This kind of learning is something practice alone cannot provide.

Impressions: The Energy Unique to Koryu

The Ikebana Koryu Association Exhibition always feels like a space where:

• Classical discipline

• Free expressive power

• Seasonal plant energy

• And the vertical line of the venue

all merge.

Each time, I stand before the works and feel my spine straighten—reminded that I still have much to practice and refine.

As a Ryusei-ha practitioner studying in Tokyo Nippori, visiting exhibitions of other schools is essential for broadening my expression and understanding of Ikebana.

For Those Who Want to Learn Ikebana in Tokyo (Beginner Friendly)

I run an Ikebana studio in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, called Oraqua – Ikebana Studio.

Here, you can learn both Shoka (classical) and Free-style Ikebana based on the official Ryusei-ha curriculum.

If you became interested in Ikebana after seeing exhibition photos or visiting a show, please feel free to join us.The quiet time spent arranging flowers can become a deeply enriching part of your daily life.

Lesson details & booking:https://www.or-aqua.com/en/reserve