Sogetsu School is avant-garde
Photo by Author Akemi Sagawa
Founded in 1927 by Teshigahara Sofu, Sogetsu School is well known for its free, avant-garde Ikebana style.
Western magazines such as Time in the US and Le Figaro in France appropriately called Teshigahara Sofu (1900 – 1979), the founder of Sogetsu School, “Picasso of flowers.” Sofu was instrumental in elevating Ikebana to an art form.
The motto of Sogetsu School is “Ikebana Anytime, Anywhere, Anybody.” The arrangement is not limited to being displayed in only Tokonoma, but anywhere. People can freely select where to arrange flowers and when. Sofu created a methodological curriculum so that anybody who follows the textbook can create a beautiful arrangement from day 1.
Sofu was a great marketer as well.
Soon after World War II, GHQ officers came to Japan as well as diplomats from all over the world with their own families. Sofu taught Sogetsu Ikebana to their wives in English. They took lessons from Sofu, and got teacher’s certificates. When they went back home, many started teaching Sogetsu Ikebana in their own countries.
I happened to learn Sogetsu Ikebana in Seattle. I owe to Sofu and those wives who had studied Ikebana way before I was born. Thanks to them, Sogetsu Ikebana is so prevalent all over the world and I’m one of the beneficiaries.