Ikebana
By Kazuko Kira
Ikebana,
also called Kado, is a popular Japanese tradition. There are many
schools for learning ikebana, or Japanese flower arrangement. Usually
seasonal flowers are used, along with twigs, arranged aesthetically
in a vase. There are also flower arrangement shows and many people
come to them. Many people, from young to old, enjoy doing ikebana
as a hobby. Ikebana is used at the front door of a Japanese house
in the genkan, and in the tokonoma. Ikebana is also done at New
Years to make Kadomatsu arrangements. Any space will become gay
if there is a flower arrangement!
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Ikebana:
Types of Flowers
Contributed by Megumi Utsugi
Ikebana
is the arrangement of flowers and woody branches.
In
the Spring time, flowers such as camellia or peonies are arranged
together with a tree branch. The camellia has red, white and pink
petals. The peony blooms twice the size of a camellia. The peony
was brought to Japan as a medicinal herb from China in ancient times.
Sunflowers,
lilies and hydrangeas are used in summer ikebana arrangements. The
sunflower is the largest flower. The lily is the second most popular
flower used in summer. The red, pink and yellow flowers are very
beautiful, thus the lily is often used as a metaphor for female
beauty in Japan. The hydrangea is also a popular. It blooms at the
beginning of the summer, during the rainy season in June and July.
This flower has several colors and shades such as red, pink, white,
blue and purple.
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Ikebana:
How to
By Takayo Otsuka
Ikebana
flower arrangement is based on triangles. It is based on three branches
and is based on an unequally sided triangle. Both thick and thin
barnches should be used.
There
are different kinds, or schools, of ikebana such as Ikenobou, and
Ohara. Ikebana is taught to girls in highschool.
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