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Ichiyo School of Ikebana
The Ichiyo School was founded in Tokyo in 1937 by siblings Ichiyo and Meikof Kasuya, with Ichiyo Kasuya as its first Headmistress. Meikof Kasuya succeeded his sister as Iemoto (Headmaster) ten years later. In 1983 Meikof’s son, Akihiro Kasuya became the third, and current, Iemoto. The School was founded on the idea of creating original ikebana suitable for modern lifestyles and all environments and spaces. Today, the Ichiyo School has Chapters and students worldwide and it continues to bring new ideas to the traditional art form of ikebana.
The arrangements should be a complementary element of the space in which they are located, whether it’s a traditional Japanese tokonoma, a Western living room, a hotel lobby, or a city park.
The current Iemoto is Akihiro Kasuya. He was born in 1947, the youngest of four sons. Between 1967 and 1970, he studied at the International School in Washington D.C., and the New York School of Interior Design. He resides in Tokyo with his wife (an ikebana artist in her own right) and two sons, but travels extensively throughout the world promoting, demonstrating, and teaching Ichiyo ikebana. Mr. Kasuya’s philosophy is that “every material has its own characteristics and essential nature. When I select ikebana material I first try to discern its essential features in a process that is akin to communicating with the flowers. A flower’s expression changes with different environments and depending on each expression, the surrounding atmosphere also changes.”
The style of arranging is contemporary and includes free-form, moribana, nageire, and Ichiyo seika. The Ichiyo School pioneered the use of crossing lines in ikebana arrangements and using balance and tension, rather than a kenzan, to hold floral materials in place. The method of instruction is designed to be easily understood and enables students to advance in a relatively short period of time; there are six courses of twenty lessons each between Beginner and Instructor.
Calendar of Events for 2012
March 17, 2012: Demonstration @ I.I. Spring Exhibition, Rm. 101 Casa del Prado, Balboa Park
April 25, 2012: Demonstration and workshop @ I.I. San Diego Chapter general meeting, 10am in Rm. 101, Casa del Prado, Balboa Park
May 19-20, 2012:
30th Anniversary Exhibition @ Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park
June 8-10, 2012: Exhibiting in the tokonoma @ Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park
Sept. 17-20, 2012: Workshops with the Iemoto in Pittsburgh, PA
Contact:
San Diego Chapter:
President - Deborah Warriner
Tel: (619) 435-9712
Email: ichiyo.sd@gmail.com
Headquarters address:
Ichiyo School of Ikebana
4-17-5 Nakano,
Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164-0001, Japan
www.ichiyo-ikebana-school.com
Teaching Schedule
Ichiyo School of Ikebana
Deborah Warriner, Master
Tel: (619) 435-9712
Email: ichiyo.sd@gmail.com
Lessons: 4th Thursday 10am-12 Noon, Balboa Park, call Deborah for information.
$20 per class for Ichiyo Chapter members,
$25 per class for non-members and guests.
Class schedule for 2012:
Thursday – Oct. 13, 2011
Thursday – Jan. 26, 2012
Wednesday – Feb. 29, 2012
Thursday – Mar. 22, 2012
Thursday - Apr. 26, 2012
Thursday - May 24, 2012
Thursday - June 21, 2012
Thursday - Sept. 27, 2012
Thursday - Oct. 25, 2012
Off - July, Aug., Nov., and Dec.
(All classes except Oct. 13, 2011 and Feb. 29, 2012 are on the 4th Thursday from 10am to noon in Rm. 101, Casa del Prado, Balboa Park.)
Non-members are most welcome. We have containers, kenzans, and scissors available for use in class, as well as lesson books. Students should bring a small notebook or binder and flowers.