Tacoma-Olympia Chapter 147
Ikebana International
Ikebana is primarily about the Japanese art of flower arranging. Our activities also promote the study of related Japanese cultural arts.
Ikebana International is a non-profit organization founded in the mid fifties by the late Ellen Gordon Allen. Her dream was to create an organization uniting the people of the world through their mutual love of nature and enjoyment of Ikebana. That dream has now spread to over 50 countries/areas with at least 143 chapters worldwide and a membership of about 7,000.
The Tacoma-Olympia Chapter 147, located in western Washington State, was chartered in 1970. Dedicated to “Friendship through Flowers”, chapter meetings are usually held once a month alternating between the cities of Olympia and Tacoma.
In addition to workshops on flower arranging and Japanese cultural arts, yearly we enjoy a field trip.
We offer "friendship through flowers" by providing arrangements and demonstrations to our local communities in locations such as libraries, educational institutions, museums and art stores.
- To learn more about our Chapter email us at ii147tacomaolympia@gmail.com
- Click on the Membership Information to the left to explore the benefits of membership.
- To learn more about Ikebana International (Tokyo website) use the Affiliations tab.
- Use the Affiliations tab to your left to visit the NCAR website . It is a great resource for all things Ikebana in North and Central America.
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Schools Represented
Under the umbrella of Ikebana International, there are over 300 different schools of Ikebana each following a particular set of rules and techniques. Three of the several schools represented in our Chapter are Ikenobo, Sogetsu and Ichiyo. Others include Asakusa Enshu, Enshu-ryu Mori Isshin Kai, Kofu, Koryu Shohtoh Kai, and Migu Ki Ryu,
Ikenobo
With each new IKEBANA arrangement, IKENOBO continues a tradition of creativity that began over 550 years ago. IKENOBO is based in Kyoto, Japan, at Choho-ji (Rokkaku-do) Temple, a temple said to have been founded by Prince Shotoku.
The Japanese word IKE means“pond,” while the word BO means “a priest’s hut.” Suggesting a priest’s hut next to a pond, the two words combine in the name of the family that has headed this school of IKEBANA, IKE-NO-BO. Succeeding generations of priests were famous for their skill in arranging flowers, and IKENOBO thus became “the origin of IKEBANA.”
Sogetsu
The Sogetsu School of Ikebana was started in 1927 by the founder Sofu Teshigahara who questioned the traditions of ikebana and preferred to respect the freedom of individual expressions. “Anytime, anywhere, by anyone,” — and with any materials — is the creed of the Sogetsu School. Today, under the 4th Iemoto Akane Teshigahara, the Sogetsu Ikebana is popular around the world as a school of Ikebana that draws out the freedom of expression in each individual, always new, always beautiful, and never constrained by preconceptions.
Ichiyo
Arrangements in the manner of Ichiyo School are intended to arouse our senses in a different way from traditional ikebana, giving the viewer an experience with nature that is unexpected, stimulating, and profound.
Ichiyo School encourages personal interpretation. Imagination is considered as essential to creative designs as materials and containers. “If flower arranging is to be truly fulfilling, it should be a reflection of oneself.”
Picture Gallery
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Tacoma Museum of Glass 9/2026
Museum of Glass Aug 2026
Tacoma Museum of Glass 7/2026
Thurston County Fair 7/2026
Pt Defiance F&G Show 6/2026
2025 Holiday Luncheon
David Komeiji and Team
Members Holiday Arrangements
Jean Kawaoka and Raffle Table
50 - 55th Anniversary
Oct 2025 Ann Sagawa/Kokedama
Sept 2025 Akemi Sagawa
Thurston County Fair 2025
Pt. Defiance Art & Flower 2025
TCC Art Gallery 2025
Museum of Glass Exhibit 2025
Demo by Yoko Nakahara
Holiday Party 2024
Furoshiki Oct 2024
Seattle Japanese Garden 2024
Pt. Defiance Art & Flower 2024
TCC Art Gallery 2024
Hanafuda Card History 2024
Lori O'Brien & Marie Johnston
Dutch in Japan 2024
Sybil Hunter
Japanese Calendar 2024
Marcia Mahaffey
Pt. Defiance Art & Flower 2023
Hulda Klager Lilac Garden 2023
TCC Art Gallery 2023
Activities
These are some of our past events
Holiday Luncheon 2021
Tacoma Country and Golf Club
Saga Goryu Workshop
Portland
Indigo Dyeing at Feast Art Center
Tacoma
Japanese Garden Tour
Portland
Kubota Garden Tour
Seattle
Chigirie (washi paper art)
APC Center in Tacoma
May Fest at Lakewold Gardens
Lakewood
Art as Inpiration
Olympia
Art of Chabana at Heritage Park
Tumwater
Circular Design
Tacoma
The Bloedel Reserve
Bainbridge IslandAffiliations
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Links
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