After returning to Tokyo, ten years later, I continued to research horticulture design and became interested in current flower arranging trends. This led me to encounter an ikebana arrangement by Yuji Ueno. Seeing his work for the first time, I realized that contemporary Japanese ikebana was indeed moving in new directions. I was very excited and heartened to see this development.
Yuji Ueno’s arrangements are a new kind of ikebana to me. Although his work is simple, it embodies a special type of beauty. It also precisely expresses the arranger’s artistic intention without using complicated techniques. Yuji Ueno is a true seeker of creative expression in floral art. He has raised the caliber of Japanese flower arranging, taking it to a new level, one not bound by convention. He is one of the top practitioners of new, innovative trends and, fortunately, is happy for people to adopt his ideas and techniques.
Yuji Ueno’s arrangements.
Yuji Ueno and I share the same view about the need to introduce this current trend of pushing Japanese ikebana in new directions. It is my great honor to introduce to readers, along with Yuji Ueno, contemporary Japanese flower arrangements that go beyond the traditional concept of ikebana.
The main purpose of this book is to introduce the beauty of flower arranging with a Japanese sensibility to a wider audience and to encourage readers to create such arrangements by themselves. But we would like also to make the basic mastery of Japanese-style flower arrangements accessible to anyone who is interested in this wonderful art.
The basis of arranging ikebana originally evolved from observing nature, and this practice is one of the main themes of this book. I believe that dialogue with the natural environment is the starting point of a Japanese flower arrangement. True beauty resides in nature and we need to capture it for ourselves.
All the arrangements shown here have been made with floral materials and containers that are widely available anywhere in the world. We selected flowers that can be purchased in most flower shops. We used ordinary containers that can be found in daily life and were not specifically made for ikebana. Basic techniques are used over and over again to help readers develop familiarity.
In the book, we go directly to the essence of beauty as found in ikebana. I attempt to explain the aspects of universal beauty that are inherent in ikebana. I not only discuss the shape, design and techniques of an arrangement but also introduce methods of coordination and ideas about adding and subtracting materials and colors. In each arrangement in the pages that follow, I will introduce what constitutes a sense of beauty in Japan, which is the key to a successful arrangement.
A unique approach taken in this book is the emphasis on the importance of the relationship between every aspect of a Japanese-style flower arrangement. In Japan, arranging flowers means producing an artwork by paying attention to the total contribution and coordination of various elements, such as the floral material, container, season, water, setting, space, light and purpose. Ikebana is an integrated art of space and time, where all the elements conjoin at one point. My aim is to present this kind of awareness to the reader.
In Japan, a European-based lifestyle has penetrated all aspects of urban society and many people have become “Westernized”. There are now many houses that lack the traditional tatami mat room and the tokonoma alcove for displaying seasonal art objects. At the same time, Western society is beginning to understand Eastern culture and be influenced by it. “East meets West” prevails in many ways in modern Japanese society and we increasingly see a fusion of the two spheres.
Japanese-style arrangements can also be appreciated during Western festivities and on special occasions. Certain celebrations, such as Easter or Thanksgiving, are not widely observed in Japan, but even so flower arrangements with a Japanese touch may provide a different but memorable touch to your special occasion.
Although ikebana has traditionally been placed in a special alcove in a Japanese-style room, my intention is for the arrangements to decorate a contemporary living space. All of the arrangements in this book are therefore designed to suit a Western environment. Simple ikebana set in any room in the home can add a great deal of pleasure and enjoyment to your life.
A certain level of technique is required to make an arrangement that fully realizes your creative intention. However, the real goal of an arrangement is to express your creativity, not to show off techniques. In this book, all the important and essential techniques used in the arrangements are covered in a separate section. My explanation for each work focuses more on the concept and key factors for the success of the arrangement.
Additional photographs are included to illustrate details of the techniques and arranging tips. I encourage readers to try to apply such techniques in their own arrangements. Beyond just a mass of flowers in a vase, creative and pleasing ikebana can be accomplished with the simple techniques presented in this book. Although “practice makes perfect”, it can also lead to creative thinking and originality.
I like to keep my eyes and mind open to discovering beauty and spontaneity in any encounter I experience, whether it be with seasonal flowers, a peaceful sunset or a nice glass of wine. I urge you to keep your eyes and mind open to the message of the beauty and feeling within the Japanese-style arrangements presented here. Although this book may seem to be filled with rules, they are really only guidelines born of my interaction with the art of Japanese ikebana. Sometimes breaking the rules can lead to new ideas that will set you on an exciting journey of your own.
I do hope that this book encourages you, through the floral arrangements skillfully created by Yuji Ueno, to look closely at flowers, to communicate with flowers, to even sometimes to struggle with flowers, and to discover your own style of arranging, one that matches your lifestyle. Let this book accompany you in finding your own personal sense of beauty and potential through interaction with nature and your own self-expression through flower arranging.
basic ikebana techniques
The basic ikebana techniques that are essential in making Japanese-style arrangements are presented in this section. They include techniques related to water absorption, cutting, stabilizing, bending and shaping, trimming and maintenance.
It is important to decide what kind of impression you want to make with an arrangement. Inspiration and a will to create are very important, but very often your ideas will only be accomplished with the help of certain of the techniques. While you should not let mastering these techniques be your sole purpose, it is a fact that having a good grasp of them will enable you to have a greater understanding of what is possible in an arrangement and this will allow your imagination to reach its potential.
WATER ABSORPTION TECHNIQUES
Water intake is one of the most fundamental techniques for a flower arrangement. Water is essential for cut plants to stay fresh and beautiful as long as possible. It is important to know the characteristics of the plants and apply the appropriate method for treating each type of cut material.
1 CUTTING UNDER WATER (MIZUKIRI)
Among the various methods of ensuring water intake, this is the most commonly used technique. This easy method involves cutting the stem under water without exposing the cut end to air. Water pressure to the cut end forces more water into the stem. This also improves the floral material’s strength to draw up water. Every flower must be cut this way before being treated by any subsequent method.
Fill a bowl or small bucket with ample water. Place the stem under water and cut the bottom end diagonally, rather than straight across, to open a wide surface for water intake. After cutting, keep the stem in the water and do not remove until ready to arrange. Cutting