In my thirty years of visiting Japan, I have always admired Kado and the use of seasonal flowers. I would walk into the lobby of hotel Okura and admire their commitment to tradition. The commitment it takes is immense, Kado is often referred to as Ikebana, originally practiced as a ritual offering made to the heavens by Buddhist monks.
These days the once exclusive practice of Kado has developed into a form practiced by many. Unlike floral arranging practiced in Europe, the more spiritual Japanese approach aims to capture the essence of nature on a smaller scale.
Kado isn’t really about making the flowers look “pretty”, as each time you are challenged by a new flower, a leaf, bud or branch. The composition is key as you carefully draw emphasis toward shape, line, and form. This was arranged by my wife using seasonal flowers for our tatami room.
