Ikebana…The Art of Japanese Flower Arranging

Almost every Thursday night is dedicated to ikebana class in Tochio. It is my one Japanese cultural night of the week where Michelle and I are welcomed into our sensei’s home, taught the basics of ikebana, converse in broken Japanese and English, and finish with a lovely homemade Japanese dinner. Kobayashi’s sensei is this darling women who loves to socialize and entertain whether it is with foreigners or Japanese. Michelle and I refer to her as our Japanese Grandma because besides from hugs, love, food, and presents she also scolds us on our behavior as any true Grandma would.

Kobayashi's House

Each week we pay 1200 yen (about $10) for a gorgeous arrangement of flowers and dinner. Beside Michelle and myself another women and one man is a regular at the weekly class. We casually pile in her dinning room, sit at the low level table, and begin the construction of the arrangement. While I unwrap the flowers, I often stare blankly on what creation I should form but with a few simple techniques I have learned in the past year I begin. I state that I have been attending ikebana class for more that a year therefore it may seem like I should have mastered this hobby however, I am a far cry from an ikebana master. The Japanese style of arranging is very foreign to my western eyes and changing the methods how a boutique should be developed is more difficult than one might think.

Smelling Our Flowers!

After staring at my concoction to trust that it is up to par for Kobayashi to examine, she begins the teaching aspect by adding comments, suggestions, or sometimes full rearrangement of my master piece! Once she is content with our arrangement I disassemble it to bring it home. By this time my patience for flowers has ended and stomachs are rumbling of Grandma’s cooking. Michelle and I usually set the table with rice bowls, small plates, chopsticks, chopstick holders, and an eating tray. Kobayashi-sensei is always full of surprises with her witty, cute ways which usually turn into us cracking up at some bizarre translation or misinterpretation. Last year, she once disappeared and returned as a ventriloquist with her ~. Yara and I were laughing uncontrollably at this occurrence! So, you never know what events might happen on Thursday evenings.

A few weeks ago, Michelle and I found out that it was Kobayashi’s birthday and decided to treat her to a dinner out. These dinner outings are always fun because I usually play chuffer. She is the typical backseat driver shouting out commands in Japanese until we are safely parked….I usually can’t help laughing though! We had a great evening with filled with presents, food and cake. Below is a picture our ikebana class at the birthday celebration.

This Thursday is another evening at Kobayashi sensei’s home…never know what topic will be discussed but am looking forward to the beautiful spring flowers to bring home.