A Timeline of Akane Teshigahara

1960: Born in Tokyo as the second daughter of Hiroshi Teshigahara. Learned ikebana from her aunt Kasumi Teshigahara, the second Iemoto, since her early childhood.

1981: Graduated from Training College of Childhood Education of Kokugakuin University, and worked as a kindergarten teacher for four years.

1988: Started her creative activities with an installation at the showroom of Mitsubishi Motor Corp. in Shizuoka.

1989: Opened “Akane Junior Class” and started teaching ikebana to children from 3 to 18 years old.

1990: Held her first exhibition with his father “Hiroshi and Akane Teshigahara” (Tsukashin Hall, Hyogo).

1995: Held her first solo exhibition “Omoi” (Thought) at the Metropolitan Plaza in Ikebukuro, Tokyo in June. Appeared in the TV program “Oshare-Kobo” (Fashion Studio). Published her first collection book “Prism of Flowers“.

2000: Produced the outdoor exhibition “Sogetsu Hana Avenue” which was held on the one-kilometer street in Omotesando, Tokyo.

2001: Became the fourth Iemoto of the Sogetsu School upon the death of the third Iemoto Hiroshi Teshigahara in April. Became the President of the Sogetsu Foundation in May.

2002: Produced an exhibition “Renka by 100 Arrangers” held in memory of the late Hiroshi Teshigahara in April. Offered flowers at a grand memorial service to congratulate on 1250 years of consecration of the great image of Buddha at Todaiji Temple, Nara in October. In charge of the stage design of “The Butterfly. Noh and Ballet” (Orchard Hall, Tokyo).

2003: Offered flowers at a memorial service to congratulate on the completion of Yakushiji Temple grand hall (also in 2012 and 2016).

2004: Launched Akane brand AT Jewelry. Produced the stage of “Shikoku Konpira Hana Butai” and offered flowers at Konpira-gu in Kagawa.

2006: Created “Crimson Flowers” for a TV commercial of digital high-vision TV “Wooo” of Hitachi, Ltd.

2007: Became the Vice President of the Japan Ikebana Art Association. Held the first solo exhibition in the role of Iemoto “Teshigahara Akane Exhibition: Ikebana Through My Eyes” at the Nihombashi Takashimaya Department Store. Held the 80th Anniversary Celebrations at the Ryogoku Kokugikan.

2008: Performed “Iemoto Ikebana Live” in Osaka (Matsushita IMP Hall) and in Morioka (Morioka Civic Cultural Hall). Created ikebana arrangements for the G8 Hokkaido Summit at Toyako and conducted the ikebana demonstration for the summit leaders’ spouses.

2009: Became the President of the Ikebana Association (Ikebana Kyokai). Performed “Iemoto Ikebana Live” in Kagoshima (Houzan Hall), Hokkaido (Sapporo Factory Hall) and Nagoya (Prunier Hall). Held the solo exhibition “Fantastic! Japanese harmony – Akane Teshigahara cherry blossom” collaborated with Toraya Confectionery (Toraya Tokyo Midtown Shop). Arranged the stage flowers for the Commemorative Ceremony for the 20th Anniversary of the Enthronement of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan.

2011: Published a new book “Ikebana – Deai to Kokoro wo Katachini Suru“ (shaping encounters of the heart) and held her solo exhibition “Heartlines” (Spiral Garden, Tokyo) to celebrate the 10th anniversary of being Iemoto.

2014: Became a visiting professor of Joshibi University of Art and Design. Performed “Iemoto Ikebana Live” in Takasaki (Gunma Music Center).
2016: Collaborated with NAKED Inc. in FLOWERS BY NAKED (Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall) (also in 2017, 2018 and 2019). Was invited to “Ghent Floralies” in Belgium to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the establishment of Belgium-Japan diplomatic relations and gave a demonstration and created works.

2017: Held the Sogetsu 90th Anniversary Akane Teshigahara Solo Exhibition “HANA SO” (Sogetsu Kaikan, Tokyo), published collection book “AKANE TESHIGAHARA“ and held the 90th Anniversary Celebrations at MAIHAMA Amphitheater to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana.

2018: Appeared a talk show program “SWITCH Interview Tatsujintachi” aired on the NHK Educational TV channel.

2019: Participated in “Japonismes 2018: Souls in Resonance” (Paris, France). Installation exhibition at Longwood Gardens (near Philadelphia, USA).

2020: Sogetsu Foundation called for the crowdfunding to support the flower industry, which has been seriously affected by the coronavirus pandemic. With well-wishers’ donations, Iemoto Akane created a huge spherical installation using 5,000 “Southern Wind” glory lilies as a “[Project to Encourage the Flower Industry] Even a Single Flower can Change Tomorrow” . The funding was very successful and over-achieved its target by far.

2021: Held the Akane Teshigahara Solo Exhibition “CONNECT” (Sogetsu WEST) and “RELEASE” (Sogetsu Kaikan annex Atelier) to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Iemoto’s succession.

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