New Year's greetings from Iemoto Akane Teshigahara in 2021

Happy New Year, everyone.

How are you doing at the start of 2021?

Last year was a year in which the world suffered from the COVID-19 pandemic. And the battle against this infectious disease is still ongoing. Due to coronavirus, our daily life has inevitably changed dramatically. Eating, learning, and playing with a lot of people…… These commonplace things are no longer taken for granted. Even in the world of ikebana, many exhibitions, classes and events were unavoidably canceled. How much longer will this situation continue? The uncertainty of the future still persists.

However, even in the midst of all this, it’s the Sogetsu Ikebanists who can’t just sit still. In order to meet the strong desires of Sogetsu people to create, express, and learn something, we hold the WEB Iemoto Seminars, conducted online lessons, and took on the challenge of crowdfunding and received more support than expected to create and exhibit my work. Many of you have enthusiastically responded and participated in each of these endeavors. Again, I would like to show my sincere appreciation. Thank you very much!

Many of our members are also doing what they can now in their own places as a branch, group or individual. Some did online practices and virtual exhibitions, while others posted their work on their social media platforms and performed their demonstrations…… I felt great admiration for the power of Sogetsu members. These of you whose various attempts greatly expand the possibilities of ikebana, and I’m confident that this will be a trend that will be continued even after the coronavirus pandemic is under control. If we refuse to give up, think sincerely about what we can do now and take action, even if it’s only a little, that’s where hope will come from.

Ikebana has an intrinsic appeal when people and flowers, and people and people exchange thoughts with each other in real life. The day will definitely come again when people can interact directly with each other in person in front of ikebana. Until then, I hope that you will continue to improve yourselves and enjoy ikebana in your own way.

For me personally, Ken, my second son, who is working in the U.S., has returned home this holiday season, and we are all having a great time as a family. While doing consulting work in the U.S., he is now seriously thinking about what he can do in Sogetsu and learning a lot about Sogetsu organization. Since now is a time of the advanced technology, that’s a good thing. There are many ways to get to know Sogetsu, even if he is in the U.S. I proudly inform you that Ken is serious about Sogetsu and is already working on it. I hope you will keep a warm eye on him!

The current difficult situation will continue in 2021, but I would like to move forward together with you, welcoming your passionate and ambitious wishes for ikebana and Sogetsu, toward the brighter future even if only a little. I really, really hope and look forward to seeing you all with a smile in the near future. Let’s all do our best this year, too.

Iemoto Akane Teshigahara