ABOUT ME
'There's nothing I love more than the sense of fulfilment that my connection with Ikebana brings.'
Growing up, I would often watch my mother arranging branches and flowers she’d picked from the garden in our family home. She rarely created showy arrangements with a wide range of materials; instead, she favoured simple, clean, and calming designs, carefully selecting just a few materials that had caught her eye in that moment. Though she would laugh and say she never had formal training in Ikebana, I was always fascinated by how she could capture the beauty of each individual flower and arrange them in a way that made their beauty shine and be fully appreciated.
'Take a good look at your branches and flowers, and they will tell you how they want to be arranged,' she would say. I remember staring at the branches and flowers, waiting for them to speak to me. Of course, this never happened in a literal sense - but I’ll be forever grateful to my mother for teaching me the importance of observing nature closely, capturing its unique beauty, and giving me the freedom to experiment with materials to my heart’s content.
I began formally studying Ikebana in 2000 and have had the privilege of learning from multiple Master Instructors in several countries. I started teaching in Hong Kong, and have continued since relocating to Melbourne in 2016.
As an accredited teacher of The Sogetsu School of Ikebana, I host Ikebana lessons in Tokyo, Gunma and Melbourne, where students can learn at their own pace - whether they are pursuing a teaching qualification or simply wish to relax and enjoy the calming process of working with flowers.
Beyond teaching, I also create Ikebana arrangements for hotels, restaurants, cafés, offices, and private homes, as well as installations for parties and events. I am available for school workshops and demonstrations, and I have facilitated Ikebana experiences at corporate team-building events, birthday celebrations, and weddings.
As an Ikebana artist, I have exhibited my work in London, Hong Kong, Melbourne, and Tokyo and have created Ikebana installations for films and commercials. I also provide arrangements for both corporate and private events, and offer custom-made Ikebana gifts - either tailored to the client’s preferences or in an o-ma-ka-se (artist’s choice) style.
Amid the busyness of daily life, spending even a short moment in quiet connection with flowers allows the mind to settle and the heart to feel fulfilled. Just as the colour green is said to be soothing for the eyes, perhaps the bright colours of flowers nourish us - like vitamins for the soul.
It is my absolute joy to share the beautiful art of Ikebana, and to continue learning and growing through it - together with my students and with nature itself. I warmly invite you to experience, through one of my lessons, the quiet nourishment Ikebana brings to the heart.
Toko Tazawa
