ISLAMABAD: The Japanese ambassador, Takashi Kurai and his wife hosted an Ikebana and embroidery exhibition at their residence on Tuesday.

Many arrangements by the Floral Art Society of Pakistan (FASP) were exhibited at the event as were embroideries in Japanese and European styles by the ambassador’s wife, Reiko Kurai.

Two of the arrangements were dedicated to members of the FASP who had passed away. A founding member of the society, Anver Jehan Ansari, who was a former president of Ikebana International, Karachi chapter, passed away earlier this month. Another senior FASP member, Ayesha Sadiq, lost her son Hamza.

FASP President Zeenat Salim said: “We have had a close relationship with Madame Kurai and would like to make her an honorary member of the Floral Art Society. Sadly, she will be leaving in January for their next posting in Ukraine but the membership will continue. We also hope to keep continuing and strengthening this friendship between Japan and Pakistan.”

Yasmin Salman explained her arrangement following the principles of Ikebana. She said: “I belong to the Ikebana school which sees it as a creative expression of arranging flowers. It is not only the placement of flowers in a vase but it expresses the personality of the person who is arranging it.

“There are different schools of Ikebana in Pakistan, mostly in Karachi. Ikenobo, which is a very traditional school, Ohara, and Sogetsu, which is the most modern founded in 1927. The concept of Sogetsu was that one should not be restricted to classic rules; Ikebana is an art which should be enjoyed. Since then Sogestu is practiced everywhere and in it we use unconventional materials”.

She added: “In my arrangement I am trying to show winter season by using a branch, which is a form found in nature. Once you have an Ikebana eye you can find beauty in anything you find in nature. In this branch you can see a lot of movement and a flow. I have also use Poinsettias and Pine which are associated with winter and the festivity of Christmas.”

Ambassador Kurai said: “Ikebana was born in Japan and has spread all over the world and many people here as well are practicing Ikebana. The embroideries on display are the works of my wife and as you know it is very time consuming and painstaking work. This is another area where we could explore collaborations.”

Madam Rieko Kurai said: “Since I have come to Pakistan, I have been able to enjoy flower arrangements practically every day for our guests and events.

“Pakistan is a very beautiful country with many types of flowers and plants; and I am fortunate to have many types of them in my own garden here. In my arrangement today I have created my image of Pakistan. I have used gladioli which I have used most frequently here, and they are strong, vivid and beautiful like Pakistan.”

Toshiko Orita, a Japanese Ikebana teacher, also made Ikebana arrangements for the exhibition.

She said: “I belong to the Ohara School of Ikebana and have been teaching Ikebana for seven years in Pakistan. Pakistani women have great interest in learning this art of flower arrangements and today’s exhibition was very impressive.”

The search for balance was apparent in many of the arrangements as was the difference between Ikebana and Western floral arrangements. Where the latter makes blooms central to the arrangement, the flowers, where present, were placed peripherally in the Ikebana arrangements with an emphasis on stems, leaves or branches.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2018