Sogetsu School: Anytime, anywhere, by anyone

Founded in 1927 by Sofu Teshigahara, Sogetsu Shcool will celebrate its 90th anniversary next year.  

Being a relatively new school, Sogetsu emphasizes ikebana can be enjoyed "anytime, anywhere, by anyone." Sogetsu School's curriculum is made up with two steps. The first step is to study several styles called "kakei." After experimenting and mastering these kakei, students move to experiment free style with various theme. Theme includes such as "movement," "color," and "pattern."

Sogetsu textbooks are written both in Japanese and in English, and there are many branches or study groups worldwide. In North America alone there are 48 branches or study groups. If you are interested in learning Sogetsu, here is the list.

I don't know why, but among several books on ikebana, I picked one about Sogetsu School when I first went back to Japan on a business trip from Seattle more than 20 years ago. I was most intrigued by the sentence "Things aren't the same once you have ikebana in your room."

Well, not only my room. Things aren't the same once I have ikebana in my life, really. I encourage you to at least try ikebana once!