Lesson at Sogetsu Kaikan Tokyo

In a recent visit to Tokyo I as fortunate enough to have a moment to attend the Iemoto lesson with a few of my students.

My students chose to do either a lesson from the book or a freestyle arrangement but I chose to execute the set theme – ‘Arrangement inspired by something of your choice’. Shinobu Okazaki sensei was the tutor today and he regaled the story of his own garden and how wanted to create a checkerboard effect in his lawn. I immediately thought of the Houjou-tein at Tofukuji, Kyoto, where white paving stones are set in a moss like lawn.

I found the perfect container – a metal moribana with welded rings inside (so no need for kenzans). I placed the Fatsia leaves at different levels using tension for support, then added three Arum lilies ‘as the white paving stones’. Not exactly like a checkerboard but one can get the picture.