El
aine Jo is the most influential master of Ichiyo Ikebana in the United States today. She has done an unbelievable amount of work supporting and spreading this wonderful art for years. Besides producing an outstanding amount of accomplished students and teachers, she has also put on many workshops, exhibitions, and conferences over the years.
She lived in Tokyo, Japan for 25 years and received her degree and certificate from the Ichiyo School during that time. Besides being a teacher, she is also a demonstrator and exhibitor of the Ichiyo School of Ikebana. She likes to arrange both classical and contemporary ikebana but contemporary is her favorite because it allow for freedom of self expression.
After moving to the United States in 1989 she began teaching, traveling, and giving ikebana workshops and demonstrations. She was the Founding Director and President of the Ichiyo Art Center in Atlanta between 1994 and 2005. She appeared twice as guest demonstrator for the Lynette Jennings national television program. She has publications both in Japan and the United States. In 2018 she self published a book called “At Home with Ikebana” featuring ikebana placement arrangements in the home. She is an active member of Ikebana International.
In 1998 she was awarded an Executive Master Degree by Iemoto Akihiro Kasuya, Headmaster of the Ichiyo School and in 2009 was appointed President of the newly formed Atlanta Chapter of the Ichiyo School. She held that position until 2021. Currently she holds regular classes in Atlanta at St. Bart’s Episcopal Church. Elaine and her students with their students enjoy gathering together every year in the fall for a three day retreat for intensive ikebana study.
