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The Sogetsu School

Sogetsu History

Sofu TeshigaharaSofu Teshigahara was born in Tokyo in 1907. He learnt flower-arranging from his father who had studied many styles of different schools. When he was only twenty-five he started the Sogetsu School of Ikebana. He believed that Ikebana is not merely decorating with flowers, it is an Art.

That the great difference between floral decoration and Ikebana lies in the belief that once all the rules are learnt, the techniques mastered, we must sculpt. Thus we create living sculptures.

Sogetsu Freistil Daniela Jost In 1930 Sofu spear-headed a group of artists and flower-masters, issuing a manifesto breaking all ties with traditional ikebana.  In his encounter with nature with which he had a profund sensitivity he saw a boundless field for a freer personal expression. 

In 1933 he held his first solo exhibition at the Josui Kaikan in Tokyo working with scrap metal, a new medium.   In 1949 the first major post war Sogetsu exhibition was held at the Mitsukoshi Department Store in the Ginza.  It was revolutionary.

He never deviated from the basic principles which distinguish ikebana from other forms of floral art:  to grasp and express the feeling of the material, to express the third dimension and asymmetrical balance. These were foremost in his teaching- "the principles never change, the form is always changing".
"He truly grasped the essence of ikebana and expressed precisely the beauty of omission."  (Sen-ei Ikenobo)

"Ikebana is not a mere decoration, it is an art. Ikebana is not for Japan alone, it is for the whole world." (Sofu Teshigahara)

Sofu Teshigahara
Sofu Teshigahara
(1900 - 1979)
Iemoto and Founder of Sogetsu in May 1926

Katsumi Teshighara
Kasumi Teshigahara
(1932 - 1980)
Headmistress
1979 - 1980

Heroshi Teshigahara
Hiroshi  Teshigahara
(1927 - 2001 )
Headmaster
1981 - 2001

Akane Teshigahara
Akane Teshigahara
Headmistress
2001 - 

  


Sogetsu Headquarter TokyoThe Sogetsu School was founded on May 5, 1926 by Mr. Sofu Teshigahara with his revolutionary approach against the traditional and classical concept of ikebana.

Although basic techniques are taught by instructors, the Sogetsu School of Ikebana believes that anyone can arrange ikebana anywhere with anything, and that it should not be an exclusive Japanese art limited to a few. Sogetsu students are encouraged to be creative and imaginative.


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Daniela Jost
Ikebana Training and Accessories

Address: Huebwiesenstrasse 52a
8954 Geroldswil/Zurich,  
Switzerland
Phone: 0041-(0)44-747-0371
Homepage: www.ikebana-info.at
E-Mail: daniela@ikebana-info.at
 

Copyright ? 1998-2023 by Daniela Jost, All Rights Reserved.
This page was last updated May 2023


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