News

  Yasuko Spence is the Sei-Shihan (Master Teacher) of the Hijiri Ikenobo School. She was born in China during the Second World War while her father was an administrator for a Japanese Hospital in northern China.  When the war ended in 1945, she moved back to Japan with her family where she attended schools in […]

Our dear chapter member, Fudeko Maruyama, passed away on December 24, 2020 from complications associated with Covid 19. She was 91. Fudeko studied Hijiri Ikenobo with Yasuko Spence and enjoyed making the traditional ikebana arrangements. The group she took classes with enjoyed her gentle, sweet nature and quiet sense of humor. Not many knew that

One of the many pleasant things ikebana practitioners do is make holiday arrangements.  Ikebana reflects our lives.  And these arrangements may reflect the seasons, joyous, but also sad times.  This month, we have some special arrangements to show from members of the Ikebana International Rochester Chapter 53.  Many times these arrangements will use certain materials

One of the best ways that the different schools of ikebana share with one another is through exhibitions.  Prior to the COVID restrictions, the Ikebana International Rochester chapter had regular public annual exhibitions.  And at these exhibitions, all the different schools were represented by their respective arrangements.  Also, during these exhibitions, demonstrations would be done

Finding an ikebana teacher can be difficult as there may be people who say that they do ikebana, but actually are self-styled hobbyists with no formal training.  In the Ikebana International Rochester Chapter 53 there are 16 members who have teaching certificates.  They have passed their ikebana school’s requirements to teach students.  If one is

Despite the COVID-19 social restrictions, the Ikebana International Rochester Chapter 53 has been meeting through Zoom to conduct business and workshops.  Some pictures of the workshop arrangements are posted on our “Events” page. With the news that a COVID-19 vaccine will not be available until the end of the second quarter or third quarter of

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the Ikebana International Rochester Chapter 53 has adapted to virtual events for continued practice of the Japanese art of Ikebana among its members.  Workshop information is shared via the members page and arrangements are made at home.  These arrangements are later shared electronically for the teacher leading the workshop to

Ikebana International Rochester Chapter 53 will be reviewing its schedule of events in light of the COVID-19 pandemic to determine what events will need to be cancelled.  This update will occur monthly. Presently members are creating arrangements and sharing them through social media.  And as they become available, these arrangements will be made available to