The 96th Sogetsu Annual Exhibition in Nihombashi, Takashimaya

I dare say, this blog should truly change its name to the blog where posts rarely happen. My only excuse is that life gets in the way, and I am only too happy jumping at the opportunities it provides. Autumn is slowly taking its firm grip on Tokyo, although I am still in t-shirt, night and day. Horrible thought, it´s short sleeved too. Others around me has donned their cowboy boots and winter coats and am enjoying their rides on the train, where the heat is now turned on. After all, temperatures have fallen to 22-24 degrees during the day.

This morning, the second part of this three part event opened at Takashimaya, Nihonbashi. The exhibition did not disappoint as there were quite a few exciting arrangements in various sizes. 

Our theme was Set things you cannot see. For this particular theme I chose a strong ceramic vase in red with a black base, and as material I picked typically autumn colours to pick up the colours of the vase. The green leaf carculigo is easily bendable and emphasizes the red/orange colour of the pincushions, while the black chillie fruits pick up the colour from the base.
This is a part of iemoto (headmaster of the Sogetsu School)Akane Teshigahara´s super size arrangement.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Rainy Season Ikebana

During the rainy season (and then typhoon season) the rainfall varies between intensive downpours to sprinkles. When less intense, the rain reminds me of veils dancing in circles, which inspired this arrangement
Hope you´re all enjoying a lazy Sunday.

Rainy Season

Usually, the rainy season in Tokyo lasts from the beginning of June to mid-July. A true sign that  the tsuyu or baiyo meaning plum rain, has started is not only the rain but also the symbol of the rainy season the ajisai, the hydrangea, a beauty you´ll find in abundance. The hydrangea comes in a variety of  colours depending on the soil.

Sogetsu Ikebana Exhibition

Yesterday it was pouring down in Tokyo, and it does todays as well. It seems from the weather forecast that we´re in for precipitation for another couple of days so the weekend will be enjoyed indoors.
It always amazes me how the camera manages to almost zoom out the rain as if it doesn´t exist. Yesterday afternoon was spent at Takashimaya, Shinjuku, where Sogetsu Ikebana Exhibition just opened. It is presented from June 5th to June 10th 2014 and comes in two parts, part I (June 5-7) and part II (June 8-10).

Hope you´ll enjoy and have a great weekend everyone!
Big floor arrangement by Iemoto – Headmaster of the Sogetsu School, Akane Teshigahara. Arrangement by Master Instructor Koka Fukushima. Arrangement by Master Instructor Yoka Hosono.

Inspirational Tuesday

This is a lovely season. RHS Chelsea Flower Show has come to an end and we might feel inspired. Don´t forget to enjoy the abundance of  fresh flowers, play around with the material and remember, if design A doesn´t work out, the alphabet has 25 more letters!
がんばって!

Kitty-san

On the theme of kawaii, I mustn’t miss mentioning Japan´s Kitty-san or Kitty White キティ・ホワイト Kiti Howaito, who is a white Japanese bobtail cat, a fictional character produced by Sanrio. She was first designed by cartoonist Yuko Shimizu. Kitty-san is found on everything from school supplies, stamps and flower arrangements to consumer goods such as Swarovski´s high end Hello Kitty range. She also has her own theme parks. To make Kitty, who was named after a cat in Lewis Carroll´s Through the Looking Glass, more interesting, her background story is that she was born in the suburbs of London as England was trending in Japan at the time. Have a great weekend everyone!

In bloom

It might be easy to assume that Tokyo is nothing but a stone or concrete city with narrow streets, the latest SUV car models winding its way through streets no broader than pavements.Yes, this is a two lane little street, wide like a smaller bicycle lane (outside of Japan, that is).However, if you stroll along the back alleys it might give you a taste (if ever so tiny) of the French Grasse, the world´s capital of perfume. Roses are in full bloom and these are heavily scented. Lovely!

Ikebana

Hope you´re all enjoying a great week with some warm and sunny weather!

Ikebana for the Japanese tea room

Today´s ikebana arrangement for the Japanese tea room at the Sogetsu head quarters, Tokyo. Arranged by a master teacher. Intense, don´t you think?

Linnéträdgården – The Linnaeus Garden Uppsala

This is the house where Linneaus used to live. Today it houses the Linnaean Museum. Carl von Linné (Linnaeus) took over the responsibility for the garden in 1741 and rearranged it according to his ideas. Today, the garden is still kept as an 18th century botanical garden. Linnaeus documented his work in Hortus Upsaliensis (1748). Vitsippa – wood anemone