Introducing the Ohara School of Ikebana, UAE branch. Peach Festival class and other main activities

We will post valuable experiences and useful information that "Gates of Column" readers have had in the UAE. We look forward to your submissions (address info@gates-dubai.com / Please write "Column Submission" in the subject line)

What is the Ohara school?

Among the over 400 schools of Ikebana in Japan, the Ohara School of Ikebana is one of Japan's most representative schools, known as one of the three major schools. Ikebana is said to have been established in the Muromachi period, and in the Meiji period, the founder of the Ohara school devised a technique called ``Morika''. One of the characteristics of the Ohara school is that it emphasizes seasonal flower materials and arrangements that are related to culture and events.

Introducing our activities in the UAE

We started classes in Dubai in 2014 and Abu Dhabi in 2015, and are now the official UAE branch of Ohara-ryu. We also have an UAE instructor, and we have started offering classes in Arabic since last year. The number of male students is also increasing. They also participated in receptions and cultural events hosted by the Japanese Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai, and were featured on the government official residence's official SNS when Prime Minister Kishida visited the UAE. From 2022, we will also be active in GCC countries other than the UAE.

As a school that emphasizes the seasons, we order flower materials from Japan, and even in a place that lacks a sense of the seasons, we try to deepen our understanding of the four seasons, Japanese events, and culture. We also regularly hold workshops for external people.

Introducing future activity plans

In 2024, instructors of various nationalities will be born, so we plan to hold workshops in multiple languages ​​and collaborate with branches of other schools. Students who have grown up from this class are now active all over the world, and anyone who is interested in learning lessons that can last a lifetime is always welcome to join our trial class.

3/3 Peach Festival class (student reactions)

Alison Cross (UK) : I started flower arranging as a way to get in touch with nature in the city. The teacher is skilled at sourcing rare flowers such as cherry blossoms and peaches. It's also a great place to meet interesting people and learn about different cultures in small groups.

Kakuko Sugawara (Japan) : The time you spend arranging flowers is a time of dialogue between the flowers and yourself. Admiring the flowers you have arranged in your daily life is a great oasis for your heart.

Maria Reynolds (South Africa) : I started taking classes in Dubai in 2021, and am about to finish my associate professor level this spring. This classroom is one of my "happy places" in Dubai. My dream is to one day open my own classroom and share this joy with as many people as possible.

[Recruiting participants for the trial class]

If you are interested, we are looking forward to your participation in the trial class. Contact us on Instagram or email. Instagram: @tsubakidubai / Email: ikebaname@gmail.com