The 106th TOKYO SOGETSU Ikebana Exhibition — Full Review from Nihonbashi Takashimaya by a Ryusei-ha Ikebana Artist
- いけばな教室 おおら花
- Dec 3, 2025
- 4 min read
The 106th Sogetsu Ikebana Exhibition
On-site Report from a Japanese Ikebana Exhibition
Throughout the year, numerous Ikebana and Kado exhibitions are held across Japan, especially in Tokyo, where many schools of Ikebana showcase the results of their continuous study and training.
Standing in front of each work, you can feel the vitality of the plant materials and the traces left by the arranger’s hands.It is a moment when you clearly sense that Ikebana (Kado) is truly “an art form that expresses the human heart through plants.”
As a Ryusei-ha Ikebana artist who also exhibits in competitions, I value visiting other exhibitions as a crucial part of my study.
For beginners interested in learning Ikebana, or for those who just started attending an Ikebana class, I hope this report helps you feel the atmosphere of a real exhibition hall.
This time, I visited the 106th Sogetsu Ikebana Exhibition “Flowers Speak to the Heart,” held at the Nihonbashi Takashimaya S.C. Main Building, 8th Floor Hall in Tokyo.
What Is the Sogetsu School?
The Sogetsu School was founded in 1927 by Sofu Teshigahara, whose philosophy “When flowers are arranged, they become human” became the foundation of its avant-garde expression.Sogetsu is one of the central forces in Japan’s modern art movement.
Key Characteristics of Sogetsu Ikebana
Strong emphasis on the artist’s individuality
Sculptural structures using bold straight and curved lines
Fusion with mixed media such as bamboo, iron, stone, paper, acrylic
Expressions inspired by modern art and architecture
From Sofu (1st), Kasumi (2nd), Hiroshi (3rd), to Akane (4th), each Iemoto (headmaster) has significantly influenced Japan’s avant-garde art scene.
At the Sogetsu Art Center, collaborations with artists such as John Cage, Isamu Noguchi, and Toru Takemitsu took place—expanding Ikebana far beyond traditional boundaries and establishing it as a part of contemporary art.
My own entry into the world of Ikebana began with encountering Sogetsu Iemoto works in a photo book.I was a high school student, and the shock of realizing that “plants could express something this powerful” made my whole body tremble.
That spirit of avant-garde expression is the true essence of the Sogetsu School.
Overview of the 106th Tokyo Sogetsu Ikebana Exhibition
First Term: October 22–24, 2025
Second Term: October 25–27, 2025
Venue: Nihonbashi Takashimaya S.C., Main Building 8F Hall (Tokyo, Nihonbashi)
Supervision: Akane Teshigahara
Organizer: The Sogetsu Foundation
Many Sogetsu artists I know were exhibiting, so I visited both the first and second terms.
The Meaning of “Nihonbashi Takashimaya”
Nihonbashi Takashimaya is one of Tokyo’s architectural landmarks.
It is an exceptional department store building designated as an Important Cultural Property.
The space blends Japanese and Western motifs, marble walls embedded with ammonite fossils, and elegant manually operated elevators.
Viewing Sogetsu works in this environment creates a unique dialogue between urban beauty and natural materials.
A Dynamic Bamboo Installation at the Entrance
As you walk through the main entrance, a massive installation immediately fills your vision.
Flexing, flowing bamboo
A sweeping upward movement reaching toward the ceiling
Layers of tension-filled, refined lines
The strength and flexibility of bamboo echoed with the rhythm of people flowing through the city of Nihonbashi.
Many visitors were lining up to take photos—proof that Sogetsu expression resonates strongly with the general public.
Entering the 8th Floor Hall — The Expansive World of Sogetsu Form
The exhibition began with large sculptural works on the floor, followed by medium-scale pieces and collaborative installations arranged throughout the hall.
A signature feature of TOKYO SOGETSU exhibitions is the extraordinary diversity of works.
This year, what stood out was the number of international exhibitors.
Name plates showed artists from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and more—reflecting how Sogetsu Ikebana continues to expand globally as an international contemporary art form.
Lighting That Reveals the Strength of the Materials
This year’s lighting design, consistent with previous years, used strong contrast to highlight the sculptural quality of each work.
Textures of mixed materials
The rising life-force of branches and fresh flowers
Bold shadows cast by driftwood
Sogetsu has always embodied “Ikebana as Art”, and this exhibition amplified that impression even more.
The Large-Scale Work — Unmatched Presence
At the center of the hall stood the large installation by Iemoto Akane Teshigahara.
Massive branches
Complex structures of vines, driftwood, and bamboo
Between those lines, the sculptural vessel created by Sofu Teshigahara
The intersection of “living plants” and “still sculpture” expressed the philosophical core of Sogetsu:
“When flowers are arranged, they become human.”
The Artist’s Will in Every Work
If the Ohara School expresses space as a unified landscape,the Sogetsu School presents a completely different approach:
Sculptural
Experimental
Urban
Strongly linear
Intensely personal
Each piece stands as the voice of the artist.
This dramatic contrast among schools is what makes the world of Ikebana so rich and fascinating.
The Depth and Breadth of Sogetsu Expression
What impressed me most at the exhibition was the breadth of interpretation:
Sculptural works built from flowing curves
Avant-garde pieces using bold mixed materials
Works that draw out the architectural beauty of bamboo, iron, and wood
The Sogetsu School is truly presenting Ikebana as a contemporary global art form.
What I Learned as a Ryusei-ha Ikebana Artist
I study both classical Ikebana (Seika) and Free-style in the Ryusei School, where individuality is highly valued.
Sogetsu similarly has many expressive artists with strong voices, so the exhibition always stimulates my senses.Under the theme “Flowers Speak to the Heart,” many works conveyed the arranger’s emotions directly.
I felt as if each message—born from the artist’s own heart—entered the flowers and brought them to life.
Learn Ikebana in Tokyo Nihonbashi
A Studio 15 Minutes from Nihonbashi Takashimaya
I currently operate an Ikebana studio, “Oraqua – IKEBANA STUDIO”, in Tokyo’s Nihonbashi area.
Only 15 minutes on foot from Nihonbashi Takashimaya, making it ideal for learning Ikebana after work or on weekends.
Lessons Include:
Beginner-friendly trial lessons
Learn both classical Ikebana and free-style Ikebana
Use of seasonal flowers and branches
All tools provided – come empty-handed
English-language lessons available (popular with travelers)
Certification track available (Ryusei-ha curriculum)
After visiting large-scale exhibitions like the TOKYO SOGETSU Ikebana Exhibition, many people feel inspired to try Ikebana themselves.
In the city of Tokyo Nihonbashi,enjoy a quiet moment away from the noise of everyday life and experience creating with plants.
👉 Book a lesson here
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