Ikebana for Ambassadors
At a special gathering of ambassadors to Japan,
I had the honor of presenting an ikebana demonstration.
Enkianthus, blueberry branches, autumn maple…
Layering these seasonal branches, I expressed the quiet transition of the Japanese autumn.
The gentle movement of reds and oranges spreading through the space—
I hope it allowed our international guests to feel the spirit of autumn in Japan.
Each time a branch was placed, the atmosphere of the room subtly changed.
Moments like these go beyond words and reveal the essence of Japanese culture.
Grateful for the encounters of this day,
it became yet another moment where flowers connected me with the world.
— A Story that Begins in Stillness —
The arrangement began with an original iron vase from the Sogetsu school.
Into it, I first placed a withered plum branch, its surface quietly transformed in gold.
With only a single branch rising from the vessel,
the atmosphere of the space shifted—
as if the air itself had found its balance.
That quiet moment of stillness marked the beginning of the work.
From there, the composition slowly unfolded.
Branches and materials were added one by one,
each element deepening the dialogue between form, space, and presence.
Within this gradual emergence lies one of the true pleasures of ikebana:
watching a form come into being, step by step, from silence.
— Placing Wild Chrysanthemums Among the Autumn Leaves —
In this moment, wild chrysanthemums are gently introduced into the colors of autumn foliage.
Their stems trace light, natural curves—lines that feel as if they were drawn directly by nature itself.
That quiet vitality, the graceful stretch of life within each stem, is arranged so that it resonates with the crisp air of autumn.
Along with the wild chrysanthemums, I also used gloriosa and a striking chrysanthemum variety whose petals bloom in two tones: orange on the outside and a deep red within.
Chrysanthemums are often thought of as calm, traditional flowers.
Yet in recent years, new cultivars have emerged through careful breeding—forms that carry both dimensional beauty and a vibrant presence.
Their vivid contrasts enrich the expression of the arrangement,
bringing a quiet strength and dignity to the surrounding space.
— Winter Berries, a Quiet Blessing of Autumn —
I arranged branches of winter berry, their bright red fruits gently suspended in space.
Roots extend, leaves unfold, and finally the berries appear—
a quiet story of effort coming to fruition.
Within their presence lies a subtle blessing:
the reminder that patience and dedication eventually bear fruit.
For celebratory occasions, autumn berries carry a special meaning.
Each small, luminous berry brings a sense of warmth and good fortune to the space.
— The Final Gesture —
At the end, two slender pieces of split bamboo, finished in gold, were gently layered into the composition.
With this final touch, the arrangement seemed to settle into its breath.
Here, the story told through photographs comes to a quiet pause.
Yet the unfolding of this work—the gradual rising of form through time—
is something I would love to share next through moving images.
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— The Breath of Autumn in Branches —
Enkianthus, blueberry branches, and autumn maple.
The shifting reds and oranges layered through these branches feel like the very breath of the season itself.
With each branch placed, the atmosphere of the space quietly transforms.
That subtle change—the moment when the air begins to move with the work—has been distilled into this five-minute film.
Originally, the demonstration lasted thirty minutes.
In editing the video, I tried to preserve not only the movements of the arrangement, but also the stillness and quiet excitement that filled the room in that moment.
If this small piece of time can carry to you the beauty of autumn in Japan, I would be deeply happy.
Please join me in this moment where flowers become a bridge to the world.
