Saturday, April 25, 2015

Sumie Class on April 22nd, 2015

We had a sumie program after a long interval. Two ladies tried sumie for the first time. Every time beginners are told to draw circles which is probably the key technique. After practicing circles they drew grapes. The photo below shows lovely  pictures of 
grapes.

Friday, October 10, 2014

Ikebana--October 9, 2014

We have started the Ikebana class in autumn now.
There were 4 attendants and one of the ladies joined
after a long absence. The flowers were charming Sekka yanagi
(Willow Salix), and rindo (Gentian) and kiku (Chrisanthemum).


Friday, June 13, 2014

Hikari School--June 12, 2014

In spite of the rain, ladies gathered for another attractive program. Making nerikiri (Japanese sweet) was beautifully done. You can easily imagine their skill  from the photos. Tiny animals from extra are also cute. Our teacher demonstrated sencha tea etiquette with new spring tea leaves and the tea went perfectly well with nerikiri.






Wednesday, May 28, 2014

HIkari School--May 26, 2014

To make something with a needle and a thread is enjoyment of people.
A square cloth with Japanese traditional patterns and a code turned out
to be a lovely pouch which suits well for yukata, the Japanese summer
kimono.  Then ladies tasted shincha,the first flush of green tea
with higashi, the Japanese dry confectionaries

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Ikebana--May 20, 2014

6 ladies including one new comer joined the Ikebana class in
May. There is always friendly atmosphere in the class, so
she would like the class. The flowers today were futoi (soft stem
bulrush), shakuyaku (peony) and kiku (Chrysanthemum).


Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Hikari School--April 21,2014

Really each lesson seems a rare occasion. This time each
attendant made "sakuramochi"cake with steamed rice powder,
sweet bean paste for filling and wrapped with salted sakura
leaf. It looked professional in a package.
After that, followed tea etiquette with tea leaf and orchid petals.

Wednesday, April 09, 2014

Ikebana--April 8, 2014

Winter is over and finally beautiful sakura season has arrived,
though spring weather is unstable.
And we sense a touch of early summer from the flowers our
teacher selected. They were luteus, little sunflowers, snap dragons
and liatris. Five arrangements were attractively done.



Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Hikari School--March 17, 2014

The class started with some explanation on ohanami (cherry-blossom viewing).
List of many popular places for ohanami in Tokyo gave hints for ohanami plan
this spring. Then followed making kumihimo (Japanese braded code).
They made a lovely mobile-phone strap. The etiquette of tea ceremony today
was sakura-kosen which they enjoyed taste and aroma of tea with salted
cherry blossom.


Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Ikebana-- March 11, 2014

Spring seems just around the corner.
Ladies all arranged sideling style today with sakura, calla lily and fern.
Small buds of sakura will soon be open in a vase and give different atmosphere day by day.


Sumie-- March 4, 2014

Today’s theme was a plum tree with flowerswhich is full bloom now.
 It’s good to have a member’s parents who visit Japanfor a holiday. 
Using a sheet of big paper, they all finished drawing beautifully 
an old trunk of “ume” tree with pale pink petals of “ume” flowers.


Ikebana -- February 18, 2014

It was a chilly, windy day and there was still snow not melted which had surprised
 people in Kanto area a few days ago. As hina doll festival is coming near, four ladies arranged
 peach flower, field mustard and tulip. Four arrangements on the table gave a scent of spring.


Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Hikari School -- February 17, 2014

Hikari School was held for the first time this year. The theme
was Hinamatsuri, Japanese Dolls' Festival. The workshop
was started with blending incense and making scent bags.
Then we enjoyed Benifukicha for sencha tea ceremony.
Benifukicha is a king of green tea which is effective against
pollen allergy.

 

Monday, February 17, 2014

Sumie -- February 13, 2014

Three ladies joined today's sumie lesson. Hina
doll festival coming near, they painted hina dolls.
They are colorful and different from sumie they
have done before. The grapes painted by a new
member are also lovely.

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Ikebana --January 14,2014

Our Japanese culture program has started with Ikebana lesson this year.
6 members gathered together and arranged the same flowers such as
salix-willow, narcissus and startice following the teacher's individual
instruction.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Hikari School -- December 17, 2013

Just two weeks to go until the end of 2013. Children had caught
cold and some people had to stay home. Those who joined the
lesson enjoyed making New Year's ornament using a piece of
charcoal and red and white strings. We had buckwheat tea
for sencha tea ceremony. The flavor of the tea was very nice.


 

Monday, December 16, 2013

Ikebana -- December 10, 2013

It was the last lesson in 2013. Four ladies attended and
two of them had a test of their own stage. Both of them
attractively arranged  cedar, snap dragon and hypericum. 
The combination of the flower and plants are just fit for
Christmas season.



Saturday, November 30, 2013

Hijkari School -- November 28, 2013

Hikari School was held on a beautiful day. Five people joined the lesson.
First everyone made a Christmas ornament with kimono cloth. It can be hung
up on a Christmas tree. After the workshop we enjoyed roasted tea making.


Saturday, November 16, 2013

Ikebana -- November 12, 2013

We welcomed two newcomers today.
They said that was the first Ikebana lesson to them ,
but completed very beautifully. Flowers our teacher
selected were salix- willow, chrysanthemum and
solidago.
 

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Sumie -- October 29, 2013

It was another fun lesson! Today ladies painted grapes on
large sheets of paper. They practiced grapes before but
not whole tree. Each work is different and beautiful.
They have surely made a lot of progress.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Hikari School -- October 22, 2013

Hikari School started again! Five ladies joined the lesson.
As before we started with hand work. We did traditional 
stitch work sashiko and made coasters. Then followed
sencha tea ceremony. The theme was Japanese autumn.
The teacher told us about the moon viewing and the
events of October.
 

Friday, October 04, 2013

Ikebana -- October 1, 2013

Five ladies ejoyed October Ikebana with flowers such as dracaena,
cock's comb, solidago, chrisanthemum and willow(salixbkoriyanagi). 
Some arranged freely with unique shape of branch and some tried
leaf arrangement which is also attractive.

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Sumie -- September 26, 2013

We had the first sumie lesson after a long summer break.
Today one newcomer joined us. Practicing different strokes,
they painted sunflowers again. Below have a look at their
beautiful work.