Ikebana Exhibition ReportVisiting the 130th Anniversary Ohara School Tokyo Chapter Ikebana Exhibition

Introduction – A Field Report from an Ikebana Artist

Ikebana and Kadō exhibitions held in Tokyo and across Japan are special spaces where artists from various schools present the results of their continuous training.

Standing in front of each work, you can sense the vitality of the plants and the depth of the artist’s discipline—this, I believe, is one of the essential qualities of ikebana.

As a Ryusei-ha ikebana artist myself, I regularly exhibit at shows and visit many others for study.

For beginners, people considering ikebana as a cultural hobby, or those attending ikebana classes for the first time, exhibitions can feel distant or unfamiliar. This report aims to bring the “atmosphere of the real venue” closer to you.

This time, I visited the 130th Anniversary Ohara School Tokyo Chapter Ikebana Exhibition – Ikebana Jiseisho: Autumn during its second term.

What Is the Ohara School? (About the School)

The Ohara School (Ohara-ryu) was founded in the Meiji period and is widely known for establishing the innovative technique called “Moribana.”

Moribana is:

• The arrangement of multiple plant materials in a shallow container (suiban)

• A method that captures natural landscapes and seasonal scenery within the vessel

At the time, this approach was revolutionary, breaking away from traditional vertical forms.

Today, the Ohara School is recognized for:

• Refined spatial and color design

• Strong emphasis on seasonal landscapes

• Rhythm and contrast created through plant materials

• A wide curriculum and certification system accessible to beginners and advanced practitioners alike

  
  

It is one of the major ikebana schools in Japan that preserves tradition while actively exploring modern expression and sculptural forms.

(This explanation is summarized from publicly available Ohara School resources.)

The 130th Anniversary Ohara School Tokyo Chapter Exhibition (2025)

Period

• First Term: October 2–4

• Second Term: October 5–7

  
  

VenueShinjuku Takashimaya – 11F Event Hall

Hosted by: Ohara School Tokyo ChapterSupported by: Ohara School Headquarters

For this visit, I attended only the second term due to schedule constraints.

Before becoming an ikebana artist, I worked in the fashion industry.

I have always loved department stores—the accessories floor, the cosmetic counters, the atmosphere of well-designed retail spaces. For me, exhibitions held at Shinjuku Takashimaya always carry a special sense of anticipation.

As a Ryusei-ha artist, I am also scheduled to exhibit at an ikebana show in this same Shinjuku Takashimaya venue next year, so visiting this exhibition had personal and professional significance.

The Exhibition Begins Before You Enter the Hall

One of the biggest surprises was the installation placed before reaching the 11th-floor event hall.

A sculptural composition—visible from outside the venue—featured:

• Elegant, distinctive lines of branches

• A refined, contemporary spatial arrangement

• Plant materials arranged with the unmistakable sophistication of the Ohara School

  
  

It created the feeling that “the exhibition begins before you step inside,” merging the polished atmosphere of a luxury department store with the aesthetic clarity of Ohara-ryu.

This alone already set the exhibition apart from conventional department-store ikebana shows.

A Powerful Entrance: The Work of Headmaster Ohara

Upon entering the exhibition, visitors are immediately confronted with a monumental work by Hirotaka Ohara, the Headmaster of the Ohara School.

Large branches set the direction of life and energy, while delicate flowers illuminated the structure from within.

The piece felt like a symbolic embodiment of the school’s 130-year trunk—firm roots, a strong core, and new branches reaching into the future.

It was both commanding and deeply poetic.

A Presentation Method That Breaks Convention

In many ikebana exhibitions, works are presented individually on white display stands, arranged evenly across the floor.

However, the 130th Anniversary Ohara Exhibition completely transformed this familiar format.

While some white display stands remained, what stood out was the innovative way small and medium-sized works were collectively arranged as if inside one enormous vessel.

This spatial design created a sense of unity and fluidity rarely seen in traditional exhibitions.

Moribana Expanded to the Scale of Architecture

Because the Ohara School is the originator of Moribana, it felt fitting that this exhibition extended Moribana principles into full spatial design.

The concept was clear:

• A large area of the floor was treated like an oversized suiban (water vessel)

• Small and medium works were placed at precise intervals

• Each piece contributed to a larger scenic composition

• Visitors encountered changing “landscapes” as they walked through the space

  
  

It was as if the entire event hall had become a single landscape-style Moribana, and the audience became part of its rhythm.

This struck me as a truly groundbreaking form of ikebana exhibition design.

The spacing between works was especially masterful:

• Up close: each artist’s individuality emerged

• From afar: the works melted into one coherent landscape

  
  

Ikebana is an art of plants, but it is also undeniably an art of space.This exhibition reaffirmed that.

Lighting That Enhances Depth, Shadow, and Materiality

Another striking feature was the lighting design.

Unlike standard event-hall illumination, the lighting here was carefully controlled, creating intentional shadows and highlights.

The result was:

• Glossy surfaces of leaves shining subtly

• Tree bark textures standing out

• A heightened sculptural presence in each composition

• A gallery-like mood that brought gravitas to the entire hall

  
  

It is rare to see this level of spatial sensitivity in a department-store ikebana exhibition.

Sculptural and Contemporary Ikebana Works

The Ohara School embraces traditional forms but also encourages contemporary and sculptural expression.

The exhibition included:

• Boldly curved branch compositions

• Wall-mounted installations

• Abstract pieces using non-plant materials

• Custom-designed display bases and grids

• Large-scale works that spanned entire sections of the hall

  
  

These works reminded viewers that ikebana is not only a traditional art but also a living, evolving contemporary art form.

Reflections as a Ryusei-ha Ikebana Artist

Studying Ryusei-ha means working with both Seika (classical forms) and free-style compositions.

Viewing other schools' work always gives me new insight.

This exhibition taught me:

1. Converting plant colors into spatial rhythm

The Ohara School’s use of color, texture, and material combinations was masterful.

2. Applying Moribana principles on a spatial scale

Ryusei-ha also values flow, space, and natural rhythm.

Seeing them expanded across an entire hall was eye-opening.

3. The synergy between ikebana and the architecture of a department store

Lighting, floors, materials—all elevated the expressive power of the works.

These insights will deeply influence my own future exhibitions and lessons.

The Importance of Experiencing Ikebana “In Person”

When viewing a flower exhibition:

• Plant posture

• Movement

• Tension

• Dialogue between vessel and material

  
  

all look different from piece to piece.

This variety is the essence of ikebana—and the reason exhibitions are invaluable for learning.

As a Ryusei-ha artist training in both Nihonbashi and Nippori, visiting other schools’ exhibitions continually expands my understanding of composition, space, and expression.

Witnessing a major commemorative exhibition like this one was a meaningful experience that will directly enrich my practice.

Learn Ikebana in Tokyo (Beginner-Friendly / English-Friendly)

At my studio Oraqua – Ikebana Studio (Tokyo / Nihonbashi), I offer lessons based on the Ryusei-ha curriculum.

Our lessons include:

• Beginner-friendly trial lessons

• Classical Seika and free-style ikebana

• Use of seasonal fresh plant materials

• All tools provided

• English-language lessons available

• Training paths for certification (Shihan qualification available)

  
  

If this exhibition sparked your interest, or if you wish to learn Japanese culture through ikebana, we would be honored to welcome you.

Ikebana offers a quiet moment away from city life—an experience of mindfulness, sensitivity, and creativity.

👉 Details & Reservations

https://www.or-aqua.com/en/lesson