A series of columns related to Iemoto Akane will be posted here.

vol. 4: Power of Flowers Connecting the Hearts of People
Iemoto Akane Teshigahara 10th Year Solo Exhibition was held!

Iemoto Akane Teshigahara 10th year celebration event “Heartlines” was held from May 31 to June 5, 2011 at SPIRAL in Aoyama, Tokyo. With the Iemoto’s strong wish to let more people feel the power of ikebana at her 10th year milestone of being Iemoto, she chose SPIRAL in trendsetting Omotesando, a cosmopolitan area.

On March 11 when details of the exhibition were almost fixed, the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred and this disaster could have caused the cancellation of the exhibition. Iemoto, however, decided to hold the exhibition after greatly changing the concept because she wanted to convey the power of plants at such a terrible moment.

Until Iemoto finally decided, she was anxious, but once the production started, she did not show any hesitation at all.

Iemoto was devoted to her creation once she held the scissors.	The containers used this time were all made by Iemoto Akane herself.
For the bamboo installation, Iemoto gave precise instructions based on the model.	The framework was almost completed.
Then the height was increased.	Uniformity was essential for the bamboo wall, which was braided meticulously.
The ceiling was made with split bamboo, carefully constructed one by one.	A bamboo belt was installed. Great power was required not to be defeated by the spring in the bamboo.
The bamboo belt was moved further up.	During the final check. The outside was already completely bright.

All the creations were completed by 9 o’clock on the morning of the first day of the exhibition. In spite of working all-night, Iemoto’s face was brightened with her sense of fulfillment that everything possible had been done.

At the same time when the exhibition started at 11 o’clock in the morning, numerous visitors, including the Sogetsu members who came from all over Japan, filled the site. Among them, we could find the energetic smiling faces of the members from the Tohoku and Kita Kanto regions who were affected by the disaster. Furthermore, there were people who were attracted to the site by the alluring works seen from the café; people who dropped in when they walked in front of SPIRAL, and people who visited because they learned of the exhibition by word of mouth. As Iemoto had hoped from the beginning, even people who do not have contact with ikebana in their daily lives spent luxurious moments where the pure energy of the flowers washed over them.

With Mrs. Senso Onaka, who visited the exhibition on the first day.	Crowded site.
Visitors could enjoy the exhibits from above up on the slope.	Delicate yet dynamic bamboo installation.
Harmony played by straight and curved lines.	Unconstrained and colorful works were displayed.
From the top of the slope. Iemoto’s exhibits could be enjoyed from various angles.

In the evening of May 31, the opening reception was held having invited people mainly from the companies that sponsored this exhibition. It was a precious evening as Iemoto fully recognized once again from the warm encouragement of the guests how numerous people had supported her in the last ten years as Iemoto.

As an attraction, Mr. Kazuhiko Kinami, who was the music director for the site (left), Ms. Tin, vocalist (center), and Ms. Miyako Kosugi, violinist (right) performed fantastically.

Souvenirs for the guests were Akane, a new breed of rose named after Iemoto.

On June 1, Her Imperial Highness Princess Hanako of Hitachinomiya visited the exhibition. HIH Princess Hanako viewed the exhibits one by one with Iemoto Akane and enjoyed the fresh feeling of the plants.

A thought for the past 10 years as Iemoto and hope for the future—we are sure that the heartlines created by Iemoto Akane definitely delivered smiles and comfort to all the people who visited the venue. This solo exhibition left an invigorating impression which serves as the opening of the new decade for Iemoto Akane Teshigahara.


Iemoto with her niece and her children.