SOGETSU JAPAN

History of Sogetsu

1927— Sofu Teshigahara founds Sogetsu School.

1950s— Internationally recognized, the term "ikebana" becomes part of international language. Sofu creates his famous works, "Kyozo (the Void)," "the Black Sunflower," and "the Locomotive."

1960s— Sogetsu Art Center becomes the center of avant-garde movements in Japan. Hiroshi Teshigahara wins Jury's Special Award at 1964 Cannes Film Festival for "Woman in the Dunes."

1970s— Kasumi Teshigahara serves as the ikebana envoy to countries around the globe.

1979— Kasumi is inaugurateti as the second Iemoto.

1980s— Hiroshi Teshigahara is inaugurated as the third Iemoto. His bamboo installations receive an international acclaim in such cities as Paris, New York, Seoul, Lyon, Avignon, and Milan. Hiroshi also becomes engaged in opera stage direction and producing tea ceremonies.

1989 — Akane Teshigahara becomes Vice President of Sogetsu Foundation. Highlighting the freshness of plants, Akane presents works featuring the interplay of light through use of acrylic rods and vinyl tubes, expanding the arena of ikebana activities.

1990s— Akane holds exhibitions, " Omoi (Thoughts)," 'Tsuteumu(Enfolding)," and "Tsumugu (Weaving)" in Japan. "Sogetsu HanaAvenue" on Omotesando Avenue, Tokyo, becomes an annual event in 2000-2005.

2001-present Akane Teshigahara is inaugurated as the fourth Iemoto. "The Exhibition Sofu Teshigahara" at the Setagaya Art Museum in Tokyo for the centennial anniversary of his birth. Along with large installations of plant materials and theatrical arts for the Noh stage, Sogetsu Exhibition, at Shinjuku Takashimaya Department Store, Tokyo, becomes an annual event from 2005, focusing on two essential elements of ikebana, fresh plant materials and containers attract particular attention. March 2007 celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Sogetsu School, Akane holds Solo Exhibition "Ikebana Through My Eyes" in Tokyo. She produced an ikebana space that shows ikebana works from all the angles. "Commemoration Festival" was held, coordinating Ikebana Performance with dance and music. "The Exhibition Hiroshi Teshigahara" at the Museum of Modern Art, Saitama, Japan July - Oct., 2007.

2008— "Sogetsu textbooks" based on new curricula were published and the class using them started from April. Akane's live performance tour in Japan "Iemoto Ikebana Live - Flower is Heart, Forever Flowers at Sogetsu" starts in June.

2009-2010 Iemoto Akane has been very busy, dedicating her time and efforts to promoting Ikebana around the World. (USA, Australia, etc..)