The Japanese Culture Center, in partnership with the Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce and Japanese Arts Foundation, is hosting an Ikebana Walking Exhibition July 20th and 21st in the Southport Corridor with Ikebana instructors, artists, and students will install flower arrangements from two different schools of Ikebana taught at the center; Ikenobo and Ohara Ryu.  In addition, there will be Ikebana themed, avant-garde Japanese calligraphy and origami flower arrangements on display at some participating locations.

This event is free of charge and generously sponsored by SSA 27, as well as Melissa and John Ziberna.

The exhibition features the Japanese art of flower arrangement, or ikebana (ee-keh-bah-nah) in local restaurants and business storefront windows throughout the Southport Corridor allowing safe public access to this beautiful and unique art. Ikebana flower arrangements are meant to be viewed from a single perspective, rather than in the round as often seen in western arrangements. This allows for a perfect experience viewing this art through the window fronts of your favorite local business! The Lakeview neighborhood was historically considered the unofficial Japantown of Chicago. This collaboration seeks to connect our neighborhood’s past with the present, while supporting local restaurants and businesses.

A current list of businesses that are participating, thus far:

  • Aura Candle Bar – Ikenobo – 3338 N Southport Ave
  • Bombastic Café – Ohara Ryu – 3732 N Southport Ave (inside)
  • Bonobos – Ikenobo – 3434 N Southport Ave
  • Candyality – Ohara Ryu – 3737 N Southport Ave (inside)
  • Capital One Café – Ikenobo – 3435 N Southport Ave
  • Evereve – Ikenobo – 3440 N Southport Ave
  • Fleet Feet Lakeview – Ikenobo – 3359 N Southport Ave
  • Framebridge Southport – Ikenobo – 3453 N Southport Ave
  • Galleria Liqueurs – Ohara Ryu – 3409 N Southport Ave
  • Itoko – Ohara Ryu– 3325 N Southport Ave (inside)
  • Konbini & Kanpai – Ikenobo – 1433 W Belmont Ave
  • Krista K Boutique – Ohara Ryu – 3458 N Southport Ave (inside)
  • Lush – Origami – 3430 N Southport Ave (inside)
  • Music Box Theatre – Ohara Ryu – 3733 N Southport Ave, Chicago (inside)
  • Noodles & Company – Origami – 3419 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
  • Paper Source – Shodo – 3543 N Southport Ave
  • Sephora – Ohara Ryu – 3405 N Southport Ave
  • Southport Grocery and Cafe – Ikenobo – 3552 N Southport Ave
  • Starbucks – Ohara Ryu – 3400 N Southport Ave  (inside)
  • US Apothecary (K. Hall Studio) – Ohara Ryu – 3451 N Southport Ave (inside)

Ikebana – Ikenobo

Ikebana originated with Ikenobo, beginning in Kyoto, Japan. Passed down through generations of the Ikenobo family and from teacher to student, Ikenobo has spread throughout Japan and around the world for over 1,000 years.

The Chicago Chapter was founded over 50 years ago by Senior Professor Ikka Nakashima. She is the second woman ever to receive the highest honor given outside the Imperial family, The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays. The Emperor of Japan personally presented her with this award in Tokyo for her tireless service in promoting Japanese arts and culture.

The Japanese Culture Center offers virtual and in-person workshops and classes at the introductory and intermediate/advanced levels in the Ikenobo style with Charles Harris Sensei.

Learn more about our Ikebana Ikenobo program here.

Charles Harris Sensei

Professor Charles Harris is the leader of the Chicago Chapter of the Ikenobo Ikebana Society, a role which he assumed at the request of Professor Nakashima in 2010. The Chapter holds regular exhibitions at the Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago and the Chicago Botanic Garden.  He is passionate about sharing ikebana with those not frequently able to access Japanese cultural arts.  After Professor Nakashima’s passing in 2014, her collection of tea and ikebana implements, kimonos, obi and other cultural items were donated to the Japanese Culture Center.  Professor Harris serves as Curator of this extensive collection and is also is a recipient of the Japan America Society of Chicago’s Cultural Achievement Award.

Ikebana – Ohara Ryu

The Ohara School of Ikebana was founded by Unshin Ohara when he explored the fields and mountains and tried to develop a style of Ikebana that would express the beauty of natural scenery, while incorporating Western-style flowers, creating the Moribana style. The Japanese Culture Center offers several virtual workshops, classes, and information sessions for those looking to learn about and explore a more modernized style of ikebana.

Learn more about our Ikebana Ohara Ryu program here.

Yuko Inoue Darcy Sensei

Since 2005, Ms. Inoue-Darcy has been teaching Ikebana throughout Chicagoland. She is a member of and an instructor in the Ohara School of Ikebana, both in Japan and in the U.S. Originally from Japan, Ms. Inoue-Darcy practiced Ikebana, Tea Ceremony and Incense Ceremony from a young age. Ms. Inoue-Darcy moved to the U.S. where she received a Master’s degree in Comparative Literature from Washington University in St. Louis, where she was also an instructor of Japanese Language. In 1994, she accepted a teaching position at West Side High School, a public high school in Gary, Indiana, striving to inspire and nurture students with Japanese art, culture and language. Ms. Inoue-Darcy has traveled to more than 20 countries, exploring her curiosity about each country’s indigenous plants, flowers and arrangement styles.

Currently, Ms. Inoue-Darcy is an active Ikebana lecturer, exhibitor, and demonstrator who travels nationally and internationally. She teaches regularly at the Japanese American Service Committee, the Evanston Art Center, the Japanese Culture Center, as well as at her own studio in Lincoln Park. Her principal teachers are the late Hougyoku Hirai, the late Kazuko Ernst, and Houhatsu Takeuchi. Ms. Inoue-Darcy is a President of the Ohara School of Ikebana Chicago Chapter.

Upcoming Ikebana Programs

Link to Ikenobo and Ohara Classes and Workshops

Shodo

Shodo is the Way of the Brush or Japanese calligraphy.  It is an artistic way of writing the Japanese language using brush (fude) and ink (sumi). This form of writing with a set brush stroke order allows for a creative way to produce works of art.

There are different calligraphy styles: kaisho (correct writing) described as deliberate and clear strokes similar to newspaper print, gyousho (traveling writing) seen as a semi cursive style, and sousho (grass writing) the flowing cursive style.  Often tied with meditation, the mind is cleared to let the letters flow out with little effort. This state of mind is called “mu shin” or “no mind state.”

Hekiun Oda Sensei

Oda Sensei created the calligraphy used for the Ikebana Walk logo and is a representative of the prestigious Genshinkai, based in Kobe, Japan, holding the highest level of instructional certification (Shihan).  He also is a recipient of the Japan America Society of Chicago’s Cultural Achievement Award and has had a gallery space in the Uniqolo on Michigan Ave.

Mr. Oda was grew up in Kobe City, Japan, and began studying shodo at the age of 5 under the Goun Katsura.   Having relocated to Chicago in 1990, Mr. Oda has demonstrated large brush Shodo and held many exhibitions throughout the Chicagoland area and the US.

His art is a reflection of his heart and he expresses his form through his powerful and bold strokes.  After he moves his brush, there is no going back.

Learn more about our Shodo program here.

Origami

Ty Yamamoto Sensei

Yamamoto Sensei is a Chicago-based filmmaker, photographer and Japanese language teacher with a passion for origami or the art of folding paper. From childhood, he has loved folding various, intricate paper creations. Yamamoto Sensei has been teaching virtually at the Japanese Culture Center, since 2020 and has shared his art with hundreds of students, as well as, various universities and businesses worldwide.

Liz Nelson

Liz Nelson is a volunteer that was drawn into our community through origami. Her love of folding started when she was 10 years old, making folded lilies. Since moving to Chicago, she has progressed further than flowers and has worked on modular origami consisting of various interlocking pieces as her pastime.

Learn more about our Origami program here.

For more photos of ikebana arrangements follow us on Instagram: @japanese_culture_center

Special thanks to our partners!