SOGETSU SCHOOL OF IKEBANA

AGM & Members’ Day – Let’s enjoy Japanese culture!

The AGM was held on Saturday 24th March 2018.
The program included a special lecture “I FELL IN LOVE IN JAPAN – WITH FESTIVALS” by Ms Marion Maule, the Japanese kimono dressing experience by Mrs Hikari Nakamura, and Japanese style Buffet lunch prepared by the members.

Venue: Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, Hampstead, London, NW3 1NG

(Click on an image to enlarge it)

< Photos by Mr Vendrice Garvin >

The AGM was held on the 24th March at our usual Chapel at Hampstead. The programme included a special lecture “I fell in love Japan – with festivals” by Ms Marion Maule. She is the holder of a SOAS/Sotheby’s Asian Arts Diploma. She has been an enthusiastic collector for over 50 years and a specialist lecturer on a wide range of Japanese culture. Today the subject of her lecture was Festivals (Matsuri).
She displayed many kinds of ornamental objects related to Japanese festivals.

She discussed each of the objects respectively. Every rural and urban community celebrates in a unique style all year round in Japan. The famous summer festival is Gion Matsuri that takes place annually in Kyoto. This festival originated to encourage deities to drive away pests, plagues and evil spirits.

Marion described several festivals and I was most interested in the Setsubun, which is the day before the beginning of spring in Japan. The custom of Mamemaki is usually performed by the toshiotoko of the household (the male head of the household). Roasted soybeans called “fortune beans” (fukumame) are thrown either out of the door or at a member of the family wearing on Oni (demon mask), while the people say “Demons out! Luck in” (Oniwasoto! Fukuwauchi!). This is still common practice in many households. The beans are thought to symbolically purify the home by driving away the evil spirits that bring misfortune and bad health with them.

When I was listening to Setubun, it reminded me of my happiest innocent early years.

After Marion’s lecture, Hikari Nakamura demonstrated how to put on Japanese kimonos, with assistance of her friends. There were also displays of Kimonos, obi (sash), Zori and Geta (traditional Japanese footwear) and its accessories. Finally four ladies donned gorgeous kimonos and Jimmi (Vendrice) put on a man’s kimono. It was as if we are watching kimono fashion show.

I am sure that everybody enjoyed the day and the event was a great success.
(The article – by Mrs Shoko Koizumi-Hanson)

< Last edited by Ikuyo Morrison on April 28, 2018 at 11: 51 am>