JAPANESE CRAFT & ART Flower Arrangement (1st of 4) “Hanadome” A New Flower Arrangement Coexisting with Nature By Yoko KASAI

with chrysanthemums and peonies offered as altar flowers. Since Japan’s climate is temperate and humid, trees thrived from season to season. Many waka poems and essays that go back to that period depict people viewing cherry blossoms or colorful autumn leaves. They also show people engaged in cherry-blossom viewing by placing cherry branches in an earthen pot. It is thought that arranging tree branches and such peonies or chrysanthemums together began during the age of civil wars in the 15th century. Around the time when the country of Japan was unified by Oda “Hanadome” is a new style of flower arrangement fusing design technology and Japanese mind that Nobunaga (1534-1582), Christianity respects everything as it is. was brought to Japan from Europe, along with European culture. Under Culture Is Rooted in Its Country’s modernization, people’s heart has lost its influence, Sado, or tea ceremony, Features its tenderness. In the world of flower was established by Sen Rikyu (1522- arrangement, the inherent blessing of 1591), who was a merchant in the The beauty of Japan has been flowers has been forgotten, and it city of Sakai. It has been considered nurtured by its nature. Bruno Taut, a appears that many people think that Kado, flower arrangement, was German architect, said that a culture copying European styles, be they created in Buddhist temples around must have its roots in the country’s French or British, is the best way in that time. features. Even before the Japanese or the pursuit of beauty. Making of pottery used as Western style of flower arrangement The flower arrangement activities of containers for flowers also developed developed, people placed flowers or our group, Treschic, started in Kyoto with the help of naturalized artisans trees in containers to admire them. more than 20 years ago and have from the Asian Continent. Until then, Such a practice is still seen even spread to Tokyo and other regions. flowers were just put in containers as today. Flowers are beautiful, either as Up to date, we have continuously an offering at a Buddhist altar, but a single blossom or in a mass. Both made efforts to develop new concepts with the development of the shoin flowers and trees are gifts from and techniques, including hanadome, style, a traditional Japanese nature and they breathe with nature. based on the concept of coexisting residential architecture, and the In spring, plants sprout up and, as with nature. introduction of tokonoma, or alcoves, seasons roll on, flowers blossom, flower arrangements became one of leaves thrive and then die as autumn Roots of Ikebana the items to be placed in the alcove. deepens and the plants go into To arrange flowers in long containers winter’s sleep. We do not know how The roots of Japan’s Ikebana, the as well as in flat containers, it was many times we are comforted and art of flower arrangement, go back necessary to use a flower-holder, given strength by this work of nature. many centuries. It is said that hence kenzan, or a frog, came to be As time goes on, nature has been originally it came to Japan from the used. It is believed that since a destroyed. Due to waves of Asian Continent with Buddhism along straight vertical line represents

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Examples of “hanadome” arrangements highlighting both Japanese and Western scenes: Without using flower-holding tools such as kenzan or oasis, the new arrangement style is good for flowers and makes transparent containers fit in well with the scenes.

Buddha standing erect, branches and ceramic and others are made of glass. times. In Japan, old things flowers were added to pay homage to Some are tall while others are large disappeared after World War II, and Buddha. and shallow. They range from a small the country was modernized, glass to a large water bottle. Looking resulting in dramatic changes in the No Flower-Holders in at an arrangement in a glass vase way we live. Wooden houses are Hanadome Arrangements wrapped in aluminum foil, it was all replaced by ferroconcrete collective right as long as the flowers looked buildings centering on large cities. Hanadome is a style of flower beautiful, or when I see a scene on a Old alcoves, which were the places to arrangement not bound by the television program in which the inside put flower arrangements, are traditional Japanese-style flower of a glass vase is soiled by the stems, disappearing from our residences. arrangement or by any other old I feel sorry that there is no beauty of This may be inevitable in houses in tradition. It is the only modern flower design. Japan, which has a high population arrangement that is based on the To someone who is used to the density. esthetic sensibilities of Japanese convenience of using a flower-holder, The design of hanadome can adapt people. Almost all schools of flower hanadome will look like a magic. to any container or to any place. arrangements, regardless of whether Either kenzan or oasis permits one to Today, our homes are full of electric they are Japanese- or Western-style, place a flower at a location specified. appliances and glass furniture. In teach students to make an By following a teacher’s instruction , prewar days, housing, furniture and arrangement by using a flower-holder one may make a beautiful everything therein were in harmony such as kenzan or the so-called arrangement. Learning a design also with nature. For the sake of “oasis.” Hanadome is a technique requires copying, because one can convenience, we have forgotten the allowing one to hold flowers without create something new from there. gifts of nature. Hanadome is created using any tool. It can be said that it However, copying is not a way to be under the concept of returning to was born from pursuit of the beauty taught. Designing is something in nature and adapting to the modern of nature. By making use of the which one is required to exercise age. natural characteristics of plants, one ingenuity. Hanadome brings peace and can arrange flowers in any container liveliness to the surroundings. that holds water, ranging from a very Hanadome Can Adapt to Although most of the people who tall vase to a shallow and flat one. Changes in Containers, Homes design hanadome arrangements are This requires one to take advantage of women, we receive endorsements the nature of flowers and containers. Designing means grasping from most of their partners without Ingenuity involved in them is the traditions and the changing times, fail. This is probably because the design. The characteristics of flowers and knowing the materials helps us design brings natural healing and involve not only their colors. Some create something new. Culture will energy. All flowers, even if they are flowers have supple, curvy stems, disappear unless it carries on old cut in stems, are alive. All flowers while others have a resolute shape. traditions, but at the same time it play their parts in an arrangement Containers are also varied: some are should respond to changes of the without fail.

Yoko Kasai is CEO of Treschic Interior Flowers. She is a graduate of Hokusei Gakuen Women’s Junior College and worked with Lufthansa German Airlines. She studied interior design at Anchorage Community College as well as at Alaska Pacific University in the United States, and is a member of the Garden Club.

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