Sakura hanami is one of the most awaited events here in Japan. It is the time when people go to parks and have picnics under the sakura trees. The word hanami was a combination of hana which means flower and mi from the word miru meaning to see. Sakura or cherry blossoms are the most popular. Unlike other flowers, the sakura only last a few days. That’s why people clamour to see.. Read More
Winter sakura may not be as popular as the usual cherry blossoms in spring. As early as Christmas, one can buy some of these blossoms in the flower shops. The flowers are a bit small and the color is lighter than the typical blooms we enjoy in April. While waiting for the sakura’s full bloom season here in Tokyo, these dainty flowers are gracing our local flower shops. Winter.. Read More
March flowers are a mixture of late winter and early spring blossoms. Fragrant narcissus warms the cold winds of winter while delicate peach blossoms start to welcome spring. Along side are sweet peas, tulips, and freesias painting the greens with pastel and bright colors. March flowers are also for the ladies and little girls as the month is a celebration of their grace, beauty, and vitality. Here in Japan,.. Read More
I always enjoy making fancy lines whenever I have the chance with my Ikebana. These are either straight or curve lines created using flowers and leaves. I call them fancy because they make the whole arrangement eye-catching. It somehow guides its audience at the same time, tickles their imagination to create shapes and figures in their minds. Fancy Lines in Ikebana Arrangements Last Tuesday while my students are practicing.. Read More
First day of everything is both exciting and terrifying for me most of the time. Last Tuesday was not an exemption. It was the first day of my Ikebana class for Best Living Japan. Since my first meeting with them last October, I have started brainstorming and preparing little by little. However, nature has its own plan as we say. The day before my class, Tokyo experienced heavy snowfall. And.. Read More