CRAIG T. KOJIMA / STAR-BULLETIN
Purple anthuriums, calla lilies and blades of palm are
submerged in clear glass tube containers, by Yumi
Yamada and Kumiko Mukaiyama.

Sogetsu school
does Japanese floral
arrangement with
a twist

IN THE GARDEN

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By Suzanne Tswei
Star-Bulletin The Hawaii members of the Sogetsu school of ikebana never had a chance to meet the founder of the famed avant-garde Japanese floral art form. But Sofu Teshigahara, who died in 1979, would be proud of the displays they've created in honor of his 100th birthday.

Plastic tubing, peacock feathers, chicken wire and aged clumps of bamboo roots are some of the unexpected ingredients that went into the spectacular displays celebrating his legacy.

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / STAR-BULLETIN
There are 56 of the whisklike bamboo pieces placed near the
main entrance to Neiman Marcus. Noa Mizuno is led by aunt
Cindy Lewis through the artwork by Toshiyuki Ohki,
Master Instructor, Sogetsu School.

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / STAR-BULLETIN
Yellow-and-green striped hala leaves are wrapped and
knotted around a wood folding chair, by Hiroko Hagen.

The displays, completed under the supervision of master instructor Toshiyuki Ohki of the school's Tokyo headquarters, are being shown at Neiman Marcus through tomorrow. A few displays will remain longer.

Ohki, who had conducted earlier workshops in Hawaii, said he was pleased by the creativity of the Hawaii members whose aim was not only to be creative but also to learn and execute "display ikebana," a new form of retail-specific arrangement. Successful display ikebana complements its surroundings and doesn't detract from the overall atmosphere, Ohki said.

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / STAR-BULLETIN
Peacock feathers sit in a nest of interlocking
branches, by Kiyoko Kadohiro

Ohki created two large arrangements for which the school is famous. One consists of 56 giant whisklike structures placed at the main entrance. Another, of rattan, is in the outside display window on the upper floor.

More bamboo arrangements, created by Sogetsu members from Japan, are placed outdoors at the Honolulu Academy of Arts, including six pieces on the academy's front lawn near Ward Avenue.

The displays at the academy are part of the "Hawaii Calls" Flower Show presented by the Garden Club of Honolulu. The garden club members are no less creative in their floral display competition. They've created tropical fish, rubber slippers and jellyfish out of roses, bozu, hydrangeas, mums and other flowers.

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / STAR-BULLETIN
Toshiyuki Ohki, master instructor at Sogetsu School, Tokyo.

IKEBANA DISPLAYS What: Celebrating 100th birthday anniver-sary and the legacy of Sofu Teshigahara, founder of the Sogetsu school of floral arrangement Places: Neiman Marcus at Ala Moana Shopping Center and Honolulu Academy of Arts, 900 South Beretania St. Time: At Neiman Marcus, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today, Monday and Tuesday; at the academy 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today, and 1 to 5 p.m. today Admission: Free (for flower shows only) Call: Neiman Marcus (951-8887); Academy (532-8700)

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