Koishikawa Korakuen is one of the few gardens in Japan with a designation as the Special Place of Scenic Beauty and Special Historic Site of the country. Like other Japanese-style gardens, this garden features a big pond; an array of different trees; and flowers that bloom for every season. However the inspiration from various classic literature as well as images from historic places makes it unique from other gardens. The.. Read More
One Championship is gaining popularity over the past years in the field of mixed martial arts. What makes it enticing across Asia is that it promotes traditional Asian styles of combat and defence. It is also an avenue for aspiring players to show their skills and capabilities. On 31 March 2019, One Championship had its debut in Tokyo at Ryogoku Kokugikan Arena. My husband and I were fortunate to watch.. Read More
Quince may not be celebrated similar to ume (plum blossoms) or sakura (cherry blossoms). But this thorny vibrant-red flower is as popular in Asian poetry and paintings. In Japanese arts and literature, this flower symbolises love and sincerity. It welcomes the spring season with vibrant red; dainty pink; or elegant white. The Japanese Quince is on my list of materials that I want to have in my Ikebana this year… Read More
For most of us, it is innate to find life lessons from what we do – a hobby an adventure, or our daily routine. The desire to find what we can learn from doing something is always there. Since I started learning and practicing Ikebana, I try to connect the Ikebana techniques I learned to everyday life. However, it is not until recently that I become conscious of connecting the.. Read More
Before there were kenzans, people use traditional fixtures and stones to stabilize the stems when creating Ikebana. Strong twigs or stems are placed in the container as fixtures to help maintain the structure and balance of the materials. Last Tuesday during my special lesson with my sensei, I tried to use a natural fixture for an arrangement. This is a type of fixture that uses the original angle of the.. Read More