Moribana: Innovation by Ohara School of Ikebana
Moribana Style of Ohara School Ikebana: Photo by Author Akemi Sagawa
While Japan closed its doors to the world from the early 17th century until the late 19th century, Ikebana became prevalent among people in Japan. Not only the ruling samurai class but also the general public enjoyed arranging flowers.
Most houses in Japan had an alcove called Tokonoma, and people displayed Ikebana there. Since the alcove’s platform was low, people used a rather tall vase for their Ikebana.
Japan opened its country to the west in the late 19th century. The new Meiji government began to construct western-style buildings. Foreigners came in and started building western-style homes. These western-style buildings didn’t have Tokonokoma but were furnished with tables and chairs.
Ohara Unshin, the founder of Ohara School of Ikebana, realized that the way to display Ikebana arrangement needs to adapt to the new building style. Replacing the previously used tall vase with a small opening, he originated and actually designed the low, flat, wide-surfaced Moribana containers for the many colorful flowers from the West.
This new container shape greatly enlarged the scope of expression available to Ikebana. Moribana became the main style and contributed to the increasing popularity of Ikebana.
The invention of Moribana-style ikebana is one example of how innovation enables tradition to survive and thrive.
In 2019 in Seattle, the fifth-generation headmaster Ohara Hiroki performed an Ikebana demonstration wearing Microsoft Holo Lens. It was the world’s premier of combining the traditional Ikebana installation and cutting-edge mixed reality technology.
This innovative spirit of Ohara School is still alive today.