As a young adult, this deep connection to nature drove me to become a plant biologist. Throughout my graduate studies and academic career, I researched the inner workings of scent and aroma production in flowers and fruits. 

When life seemed to throw me off-balance, I was fortunate to meet and learn from Ikebana Master, Shuji Ikeda, whose teachings were infused with wisdom and mindfulness, going beyond techniques and rules. In troubled and uncertain times, practicing Ikebana reminded me that simply looking at a flower can ground us, and reconnect us to our own inner strength and beauty. This is something I now want to share with others. Would you like to join me in cultivating happiness through flowers? Check out the services I offer to see if anything resonates.

I am a member of the Ikenobo School of Ikebana, which is considered the origin of this ancestral art, and of Ikebana International, an organization that brings together Ikebana practitioners from different schools and aims to promote mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and other countries through Ikebana.

I am regularly invited to showcase collaborative work with fellow Ikebana artists at the annual Bouquets to Art exhibit at the de Young Museum in San Francisco. Check out my contributions in the gallery.

A note on sustainability 

There is an encouraging trend currently happening within much of the floral world: a move toward a more eco-conscious, less wasteful way of designing with flowers. In my work, I never use floral foam, which is made of plastic particles and can be harmful to the environment and human health. I strive to source local or domestic blooms when possible, and bring my personal practice of “reduce, reuse, compost and recycle” to my creative process with flowers. I am very fortunate to have access to one of the country’s most developed waste management system here in Berkeley, making these steps more practical than in many other places. Using my scientific background, I always seek to educate myself on best practices to continue improving.