What is Ikebana?

A uniquely Japanese art where nature and human sensibility meet

Ikebana is not simply flower arrangement.

It is a traditional Japanese art that weaves together the natural beauty of plants and human sensitivity to create harmony within space.

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By respecting the form of each branch and flower, and emphasizing the use of negative space (“ma”),
Ikebana reveals an invisible beauty—a poetry of presence and absence.

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Through the quiet time spent facing plants,
we also come to notice our own emotional movements.
This internal dialogue is one of the profound appeals of Ikebana.

The History of Ikebana

Over 700 years of tradition connecting people and flowers

Ikebana originated from kuge—the practice of offering flowers to Buddha.

It evolved as a form of artistic expression beginning in the 14th century, during the Muromachi period (1330s).

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In the Edo period (17th–19th centuries), its styles became more refined,
and from the Meiji period (from 1868) onward, a diversity of schools emerged.

Ikebana grew into a cultural practice closely tied to everyday life.

Today, Ikebana continues to evolve, incorporating elements of contemporary art and design,and expanding into new forms of expression.

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On December 16, 2024, the art of Kadō (Japanese flower arrangement) was officially registered as an Intangible Cultural Property of Japan.

This recognition honors its rich history and refined aesthetic, where seasonal plants and flowers are carefully selected, arranged using traditional techniques, and placed in harmony with vases and floral tools such as flower scissors, all in accordance with time-honored styles.​​

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It is not merely decorative—it is a "culture of form" that transcends time,
carrying the spirit of Japanese beauty into the future and across the world.