Ikebana Book Review

Interest in Ikebana continues to grow in America with schools and groups in many areas of the country. Now there’s a definitive new book on the subject for both novice and experienced floral designers who wish to explore Ikebana.

“Ikebana-the Art of Arranging Flowers” by Shozo Sato was released by Tuttle Publishing. This is by far the most complete title available on the subject. The large format truly does justice to the 460+ lush color photos.

Sato is a leading expert on Ikebana and other Japanese arts. He was the founding director of the Japan House at the University of Illinois.

The foreword is Kasen Yoshimura, Third Generation Grandmaster, Ryusei School of Ikebana.

Everything you want to know about Ikebana can be found here. It features a complete history of this ancient art form, which arose from the Japanese love of nature.

This also devotes considerable attention to the various classic styles of Ikebana, including Moribana, Rikka, Seika, and Freestyle.

Novices will especially appreciate the extensive section on tools and techniques, which features all the basics you need to know. The author has made it very easy to learn by including lessons with easy to follow directions. These walk you through the process one step at a time. There are lessons for all three styles, including examples of informal, semi-formal, and formal arrangements. Sketches show the left and right hand patterns along with the different variations of each.

This book features 175 inspiring, original floral designs by leading Ikebana artists. These examples will give newcomers the confidence they need to try their hand at Ikebana.

As with any art form, Ikebana is still evolving. The author sheds light on the contemporary approach, which is just perfect for modern sensibilities. The examples in this section use a surprising array of materials, such as woven bamboo. Some of the featured designs were installation pieces.

The appendix is very helpful. It features a guide to plants for Ikebana, including trees and shrubs as well as herbs and herbaceous species. There is a detailed section on the symbolism of these plants. With entries arranged alphabetically by common name, the author explains the Japanese significance of the species and how it is used in Ikebana. He has seasonal suggestions and suggested plants for each month of the year.

There is also a list of sources along with a list of contributing artists.

Readers will treasure this book for years to come. It is destined to become a classic.