lkenobo Ikebana Society Northern California Chapter History

In the autumn of 1962, Professor Gyokurin Ito visited the Bay area and held
workshops demonstrating shoka sanshuike and other new lkenobo concepts and
trends that were evolving in Japan. His workshops generated great enthusiasm among the teachers who attended. With his encouragement, the Northern California Chapter was officially founded on January 18, 1963. The Northern California Chapter was the second international Chapter approved by Headmaster Sen'ei lkenobo. Professor Ito and many dedicated Issei lkenobo teachers were responsible for sowing the seeds of Ikebana in Northern California. They continue to nurture the art of ikenobo as we enjoy it today.

The founding Chapter President was Mrs.Yoshino Nomura. She was instrumental in
teaching lkenobo to students in America. She held the first executive meeting in
Oakland to plan for the future of the Chapter. During that meeting, it was decided to
locate the Chapter office in San Francisco. Seven Chapter presidents succeeded Mrs. Nomura: Hoka Nishimi, Hoju Kitagawa, Murayo Sawai, Chizu Iwata, Hideko Metaxas, Yoshiko LeSage and Mitsuyo Tao.

Our chapter’s founding members were Suiho Fukuyama, Miyako Tofu Kimura, Suiun
Matano, Chiyoko Matsumoto, Gyokurei Nakatani, Yukio Nakatani, Kinsui Saiki, Suichiku Suyemasa and Tsutako Tada.
 
The Chapter's first flower arrangement exhibition was held in the Hall of Flowers, Golden Gate Park in September 1964. To expand ikebana, subsequent exhibitions were held in neighboring areas including Sacramento, Oakland, San Mateo and Stockton.

In Feburary 1968, the lkenobo Ikebana Society of San Francisco office was opened.
The name was officially changed to the lkenobo Ikebana Society of America in 1978. Until its closing, teachers and their students displayed arrangements in the
headquarters windows year round.

Since 1968, visiting Professors have been sent from the lkenobo Headquarters Kyoto to teach across North America. Workshops and demonstrations are held in Golden Gate Park and in areas across Northern California. The visiting Professors have been self named "Kiri no kai". This name symbolizes their high ranking lkenobo levels and it can also be translated as "Foggy Club", symbolizing the spectacular fog they experience upon arriving at the Headquarters in San Francisco.

In 1977 the lkenobo Ikebana Society of America co-sponsored its first study tour to
the lkenobo Headquarters in Kyoto Japan. The study tour was implemented to
advance the study of lkenobo Ikebana for students in North America and throughout the world.

As the Issei sensei in the Northern California chapter began to advance in age, they
recognized the necessity of mentoring younger Ikebana teachers. In 2006 they
individually donated to create the Northern California scholarship fund. The
scholarship provides funding to send individuals for independent study at the
Headquarters in Kyoto, Japan. The first and second scholarships were awarded to
Sandra Hatcher and Mayumi Johnson in 2006. The third scholarship was awarded to Chimiyo Shioya in 2011.

Over the last 60 years our chapter has progressed as new styles have been
introduced and new concepts evolve. We continue to work actively to continue the
art and spirit of lkenobo throughout Northern California.