Preparing for your first Ikebana lesson

About 10 years ago, while I was in France on sabbatical, I spotted a poster at work about Ikebana classes. I was really excited to learn something I had always been drawn to, but I had no idea what to expect. I was told that flowers would be provided, and that I needed to bring my own kenzan, pruning shears and a vase. I didn’t really know what type of vase was appropriate… I did some Googling around, and got quickly overwhelmed by the variety of containers that can be used for Ikebana… I settled on a small bowl that ended up not being a good fit for the arrangement we were making. Thankfully the teacher had a few extra containers for students to borrow during the lesson.

Ikebana is a life-long practice. I have heard many people say that they look at flowers, plants and nature differently after having taken even a single Ikebana class. Whether you are only interested in dipping your toes and trying something different, or committed to studying this art form more consistently, I hope that this post will help you get a better picture of what to expect and how to prepare for your first class. Of course, every teacher (and every School of Ikebana) does things a little differently, but these few pointers should clarify some of the “basics”, and at the very least, allow you to ask follow-up questions to your teacher ahead of time.

The lesson 

I have experienced a variety of set-ups when taking an Ikebana class. Some teachers welcome you into their home, wherever there is enough space to host a class (living room, kitchen, a room in the garage…), other teachers use rental facilities (in community centers, schools…). Regardless of the location, you are provided a space (on a desk, a counter, a table…) to create your arrangement. Depending on the teacher, you may also be able to borrow some or all of the tools needed to make your arrangement: a kenzan, a vase/container, and pruning shears (see below for more information on each of these). And finally, the teacher may or may not provide flower materials. It can often feel difficult to select flowers that are suitable for Ikebana if you have never done it before, so my advice is to select a class where the teacher can provide flowers, at least the first time. If the teacher doesn’t typically provide flowers, you may be able to ask them to make an exception, and offer to cover the cost of flower materials. 

The lesson structure varies greatly from teacher to teacher. My late Sensei, Shuji Ikeda, didn’t have a set structure, and simply gave personal instruction to each student at their own level, one at a time, in a rotating manner. That was the best structure since he had students of greatly different experience levels. In other cases, the class will proceed with an introduction, a demonstration of the type of arrangement to be made, a time for everyone to create their arrangement, and then corrections by the teacher (some teachers give suggestions or make corrections while students are arranging, others wait until the arrangement is done before correcting). At the end of the class, you generally take a picture of your creation, then you tidy up your space and bundle your flowers to take home. 

It is generally very difficult to transport an Ikebana arrangement “as is”, even if you brought your own kenzan and vase to class. I have seen some people bring a large and shallow plastic bucket (with a small amount of water) in which they could transfer their arrangement for transport - this works well if you have adequate space in your car. Otherwise, you will need to dismantle your arrangement and reassemble it at home - which is great practice, too!

The tools

Kenzan 

Also called a “flower frog”, “pin frog” or “spiky frog” in English, a traditional kenzan consists of a heavy metal base with hundreds of sharp metal spikes fixed to the base. It is often used to secure flower stems and branches to create an Ikebana arrangement. 

Most teachers provide kenzans for you to borrow during the lesson, but some do not. Best to inquire ahead of time if it is not clearly stated in the class description. If you would like to create Ikebana at home, you will need to own at least one kenzan. They come in many different shapes and sizes, so it can be a little difficult to know which one to get when starting out.

A good beginner’s kenzan is round, ~3 inches (~8 cm) in diameter. Smaller kenzans are less versatile as they do not hold as much flower weight, so you are limited in what kinds of materials you can arrange with. An 8-cm kenzan strikes the right balance between range/versatility and cost. And while we are on the topic of cost, kenzans (especially the high-quality ones made in Japan or the US) are not cheap. They are an investment in your practice and can be reused forever. If you are lucky enough to come across old kenzans at a garage sale - jump on them! (figuratively of course… or else you will get hurt) They may be a little beat-up but with a little TLC, they will perform as good as new. Do, however, pay attention to the size and density of the “pins” or “spikes” - in my experience, many older kenzans are lower-density (meaning, the pins are farther apart from each other) and the pins can be on the short side (less than 1 cm). That may be okay for thick woody branches, but not great for pretty much everything else (especially if you’re starting out). 

Kenzans can be easily ordered online, or bought at your local Japanese hardware store (we have a great one in Berkeley called Hida Tool, on San Pablo Avenue). If you are taking your first Ikebana lesson with me (you can register for a lesson here), I also sell 8-cm kenzans for your convenience (you can use it during class and take it home - but you do not have to get it from me). 

Vase 

If you do an image search online for “Ikebana vase”, chances are you will see a lot of small, round-ish ceramic vessels large enough to fit a very tiny kenzan, with 2-3 flowers arranged in them. Perhaps that is what most people think of, when they hear the term “Ikebana”... However, in the vast majority of cases, this is not the kind of vase you need when taking a beginner’s Ikebana class. 

An experienced Ikebana practitioner can create in just about any kind of vase or container. If you begin learning Ikenobo Ikebana, you will first be introduced to a type of arrangement called “Jiyuka” or “free style”. While there are many types of vases suitable for “free style”, I typically like to start with a wide-mouthed (~8 to 10 inches in diameter) and shallow container called a “suiban”. Again, many teachers will have containers for you to borrow during class, but if you’d like to recreate your arrangement at home, you will need to have an adequate vessel.

It’s a good idea to inquire about the type of vase that is best suited for the lesson you are taking - because even if a vase is provided during the class, you will want to know if you have something similar at home in order to recreate your Ikebana. In terms of “suiban”, many larger pasta bowls, shallow fruit bowls, or ceramic baking pans (like a quiche or tart mold) will do just fine for this - no need to get too fancy. 

In the Ikenobo school, after learning “Jiyuka” we go on learning another style called “Shoka”, which generally requires taller vases that are either filled with pebbles, or that contain a built-in platform to support a kenzan.

Pruning shears / flower scissors 

Most gardening shears will work when starting your Ikebana practice. If you own a pair that you like to use, feel free to bring it to your lesson. Traditional Ikebana scissors are very sharp, pointy and do not have a spring mechanism. They take a bit of getting used to, but it’s definitely worth it if you’re planning to practice regularly. These shears allow for great precision when making cuts, and are versatile in their ability to cut thin stems to medium-sized woody branches.

Flowers and plant materials 

As mentioned above, it is a good idea to let your teacher provide flowers until you feel more comfortable with picking your own materials. While it is true that one can arrange Ikebana with almost any material, one of the things that is often overlooked are the leaves. Except in very specific and limited cases, in Ikebana, leaves are just as important, if not more important, than flowers. So when selecting bunches of your favorite flowers at a grocery store, you will want to make sure the stems have nice, fresh-looking leaves. One example of a gorgeous cut flower that never comes with leaves is the Calla Lily. If you wanted to arrange Ikebana with Calla Lilies, you would need to purchase them as a potted plant.

Other non-essential but good-to-have items 

Bucket to take flowers home 

Cut branches and flowers are still alive and need a water source in order to last as long as possible. Any amount of time outside of water will shorten their lifespan, so if you are able, it is always good to bring a bucket to class so you can put your flowers in water for the way home. 

Small towel, apron

Working with cut flowers can be messy. Because your materials are typically in water buckets, you might get your hands wet during class. Bringing an apron and/or a small towel can be a comfort bonus - but it isn’t a requirement by any means.

Notebook and pen

It may not be necessary at first, especially if you are only trying out a class to see if Ikebana is something you’d like to get more into. But if you decide to take regular lessons and dive deeper into this meditative art form, a notebook will come in handy. There are many terms and “rules” to learn, and writing them down makes it much easier to remember and apply.