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Explore & Discover

Ikebana Journal

Explore Ohara Ikebana, Japanese culture, flowers and plant materials, techniques, history, and perspectives from our community.
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Central Ohio Ohara Ikebana students gathering plant materials outdoors for a Moribana lesson in Ostrander, Ohio.

From Nature to Arrangement: An Outdoor Ohara Ikebana Experience

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Vintage newspaper-style graphic announcing that Central Ohio Shibui is now an Ohara School Chapter, featuring Joe Rotella’s colorful ikebana arrangement and the headline “We’re a Chapter!”

From Study Group to Chapter: A New Milestone for Ohara Ikebana in Central Ohio

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Pink lotus blossom, seedpod, and aging leaves showing the beauty of seasonal change.

Beyond Full Bloom: Finding Beauty in Seasonal Change Through Ikebana

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Sub-Grand Master José Salcedo at microphone

An Interview with Ohara Sub-Grand Master José Salcedo: Ikebana as Meditation

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Side-by-side comparison showing an Ohara School ikebana arrangement created during an Ohara Ryu Ikebana workshop at the Heritage Museum of Asian Art in Chicago, paired with a close-up detail image highlighting the arrangement’s lines, flowers, and natural textures.

Bonsai and Ikebana: Two Different Conversations with Nature

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Gardener cutting pink hydrangea stems with secateurs in a garden for flower arranging and conditioning techniques.

Hydrangea in Ikebana: Beauty, Symbolism, and Survival Tricks

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Golden Week banner featuring a stylized red koi fish, yellow striped background, and Japanese text reading ‘Golden Week

Golden Week: A Week That Reveals the Heart of Japanese Seasonality

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Promotional graphic for Flower Club International 2026 showing Joe Rotella creating an Ohara ikebana arrangement with pink alstroemeria, purple liatris, and yellow flowers; text reads “Joe Rotella, Featured Demonstrator, Ohara Ikebana.”

Join Me at the Flower Club International Online Conference 2026

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Snake Ball Allium

The Curly Allium Sold as “Snake Ball”: What It Really Is, How It Grows, and How to Use It in Rising Form

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Illustration of a Moribana Kansui-kei (Water-Reflecting Moribana) arrangement by Houn Ohara, circa 1951

Seeing Through Water: Rethinking Water-Reflecting Moribana

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Traditional Setsubun scene with roasted soybeans, an oni mask, a sign reading “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi,” and an ehō-maki sushi roll.

Setsubun (節分): Making Space at the Turning of the Season

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Close-up of plum blossom (ume) flowers and buds on a dark, leafless branch in late winter, symbolizing resilience and the approach of early spring.

Plum Blossom Arrives Before We’re Ready

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Carol Malott (center) receiving her Third Term Master certificate from sensei José Salcedo (left) and Joe Rotella (right) at the Southeastern Ohara Chapter conference in Greer, SC.

Why Certificates Matter in the Ohara School of Ikebana

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Children in Madagascar holding colorful pencils donated through an international ikebana community project supporting education and shared happiness.

Sharing Happiness: How Our Ohara Ikebana Community Came Together to Support Children in Madagascar

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Poinsettia ikebana arrangement with red poinsettias, winter berries, evergreen foliage, and white flowers.

A Shared Celebration: Reflections on the Iwaya Poinsettia Festival 2025

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Iwaya Poinsettia Festival 2025

Join the Worldwide Iwaya Poinsettia Ikebana Project!

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Southeastern US Ohara Ikebana 2025 Fall Seminar in Arlington, VA

Learning and Growing at the Southeastern U.S. Ohara Chapter Fall Seminar

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Three-color chrysanthemum Moribana arrangement by Kiyoichi Kamo-sensei, featuring yellow, deep red, and white chrysanthemums in a low black container.

Chrysanthemums in Ikebana: Japan’s Imperial Flower

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Ohara Ikebana student creating a Moribana arrangement with pink dahlias and fern during a class in Cleveland, Ohio.

Teaching on the Road: Ikebana in Cleveland

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Kiyoichi Kamo-sensei standing behind a lotus Ohara Ikebana arrangement during his 2025 Columbus demonstration at the Yokoso Center.

Kamo-sensei’s 2025 Columbus Demonstration: A Summer Evening with Lotus

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Ohara Ikebana Moribana Upright Style arrangement with buckthorn branches, yellow roses, and fern in a shallow black suiban.

A Garden-to-Table Ikebana: Moribana Upright Style with Buckthorn, Fern, and Roses

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Ohara Ikebana Rimpa-cho arrangement created by Kamo-sensei on 8/13/2025 in Columbus, Ohio

Rimpa-cho: When Ikebana Meets Japanese Painting

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Manners Matter when welcoming a guest teacher

Meeting a Sensei: Etiquette for Meaningful Encounters

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Tanabata display at the Yokoso Center, Columbus, Ohio

Wishes in the Bamboo: A Tanabata Reflection

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Japanese Antique Original Woodcut Print, Imao Keinen, "Japanese morning-glory, Chestnut-eared bunting"

Morning-Glory: Celebrating the Ephemeral Beauty of July

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5 New varieties of Japanese Snowballs are helping drive demand for this beautiful ornamental tree

Japanese Snowbells: A Graceful Addition to Ohara Ikebana Arrangements

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Joe Rotella's Bunjin-cho arrangement at the Southeastern Ohara Chapter’s Spring Seminar in Greer, South Carolina

Bunjin-cho: Where Art Meets Scholarship

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Ohara Ikebana iris arrangement with purple Japanese irises, green foliage, and yellow flowers in a low black fan-shaped container.

June’s Flower of the Month: Iris - Many Faces, Many Meanings

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Rohdea Japonica in the landscape and in a Shikisai Moribana Yoshiki-hon-i arrangement (woodblock style)

Planting Sacred Lily Now for Beauty in Winter: Rohdea Japonica in Ikebana

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Joe Rotella standing next to a tree peony in his yard in Columbus, OH

Celebrating the Splendor of May: The Peony (牡丹 - Botan)

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Cherry Blossom (Erika) Moribana from the Ohara School of Ikebana Book 3, April 10, 1984, pages 62 & 63

Capturing the Essence of April: The Cherry Blossom (桜 - Sakura)

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Celebrate the Ohara School’s 130th Anniversary – Enter the Ikebana Photo Contest!

Celebrate the Ohara School’s 130th Anniversary – Enter the Ikebana Photo Contest!

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Picking flowers from a garden early in the morning

Secrets to Making Your Flower Arrangements Last Longer

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Moribana with Peach Blossoms and White Stock in a low oval suiban.

The Flower of the Month for March: The Peach Blossom (桃 - Momo)

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Women, dress in kimono, shopping for Valentine's Day chocolates in Japan

Valentine’s Day Means Chocolate for Men in Japan

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Cover of the book "In Praise of Shadows" - An essay on aesthetics by the Japanese novelist, this book explores architecture, jade, food, and even toilets, combining an acute sense of the use of space in buildings.

Exploring Cultural Aesthetics: A Summary of "In Praise of Shadows"

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Ohara Ikebana arrangement in a tall case featuring plum blossoms

Embracing the Beauty of February: Celebrating the Plum Blossom (梅 - Ume)

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Japanese symbols of the new year, including a bamboo rake.

Akemashite Omedeto Gozaimasu: A Happy New Year!

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Pine Arrangement from the Ohara School of Ikebana Book #6, Pine Ikebana, December 10, 1986.

The Flower of the Month for January: Pine (松 - Matsu)

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Ohara School of Ikebana teacher presenting a certificate to a student in a traditional Japanese room, representing the structured curriculum and progression of Ohara Ikebana study.

Embracing the Journey of the Ohara School of Ikebana: A Structured Curriculum for Mastery

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Camellia in a moribana arrangement

The Elegance of December: The Camellia (椿 - Tsubaki)

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Shichigosan

Celebrating Shichi-Go-San: A Timeless Japanese Tradition

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Beginner Ohara Ikebana arrangement with yellow sunflowers and green foliage, representing the founding of Central Ohio Shibui.

From a Class to a Community: The Founding of Central Ohio Shibui

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Red Maple Moribana, Slanting Style

Autumn's Radiance: Celebrating the Maple (紅葉 - Momiji) as November's Flower of the Month

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Ikebana mechanics (Kenzan, Shippou, Natural Bracing)

Mastering Ikebana Mechanics: Kenzan, Shippo, and Natural Bracing

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Mum arrangement in Basket

Embracing Autumn Elegance: October’s Flower of the Month – Chrysanthemum (菊 - Kiku)

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Japanese Woodblock Print style of Elders

Honoring Our Elders: Celebrating Respect for the Aged Day (Keiro no Hi) in Ikebana

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Japanese woman bowing, showing politeness

Essential Etiquette for Ohara Ikebana Classes

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2 Pair of Ikebana scissors (Hasami)

Mastering Ikebana: The Art and Care of Hasami (Scissors)

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Woodblock print style of grasses in a field or in an arrangement

The Flower of the Month for September: The Seven Grasses of Autumn (秋の七草 - Aki no Nanakusa)

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Japanese woman in Kimono sitting in front of an Ikebana arrangement

Journey Through the Blossoming History of Ikebana and the Ohara School

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Japanese woodblock print of Mount Fuji

Celebrating Mountain Day: A Reflection on Japan’s Newest National Holiday and its Connection to Ikebana

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Image of a Peony in Japanese woodblock style

The Elegance of Peonies in Ohara Ikebana: Bush Peony vs. Tree Peony

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Picture of a lotus in Japanese woodblock style

August's Floral Gem: The Lotus (蓮 - Hasu) in Ohara Ikebana

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Calendar surrounded by flowers for the Japanese floral calendar

Discovering the Beauty of the Japanese Floral Calendar: A Journey Through the Seasons

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