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First Emirati woman receives certification as Ikebana instructor

Ambassador of Japan, Akihiko Nakajima and Alshehhi with the official certificate from Ohara School of Ikebana. (Supplied)
Ambassador of Japan, Akihiko Nakajima and Alshehhi with the official certificate from Ohara School of Ikebana. (Supplied)
Ikebana arrangement for the Emperor’s Birthday National Reception hosted by the Embassy of Japan February 2020. (Supplied)
Ikebana arrangement for the Emperor’s Birthday National Reception hosted by the Embassy of Japan February 2020. (Supplied)
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02 Aug 2021 06:08:57 GMT9
02 Aug 2021 06:08:57 GMT9

Arab News Japan

DUBAI: Young Emirati Amani Alshehhi is the first UAE national to obtain the certification of Ikebana Instructor from the Ohara School of Ikebana, Japan. She also received the Ikebana name Misaki (美咲), which means ‘beautiful bloom.

The history of Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, dates back 600 years and focuses on simplicity, asymmetrical beauty and seasonal materials. The emphasis on the Japanese aesthetic of “empty” space distinguishes Ikebana from flower arranging practiced in other parts of the world.

Japan’s Ambassador to the UAE Akihiko Nakajima personally congratulated Alshehhi for her achievement and for being a “cultural bridge” between the UAE and Japan. He said he encouraged for her to continue studying the Japanese traditional art.

Alshehhi said that it was “truly an honor to receive this certification from the prestigious Ohara School of Ikebana. I am sure the skills and knowledge I have accumulated will help me spread the profound message of Ikebana in the UAE as it goes beyond flowers and delves into the Japanese philosophy of life.”

The certification to become Ikebana Instructor is the first step on a path that can eventually lead to the highest recognition possible, that of First Master of Ikebana. Classes at the Ohara School of Ikebana in the UAE are conducted by official Second Master of Ikebana, Harue Oki, in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Alshehhi’s fascination with Japanese culture started at a young age when she was captivated by the beauty of Japanese kimonos. She furthered her appreciation of Japanese aesthetics by joining a Japanese cultural club at the UAE’s Zayed University.

She then went on to study with the official Ohara School of Ikebana in 2015 and completed over 120 classes. Her skills were demonstrated when she contributed to the special Ikebana arrangements at the national reception hosted by the Japanese Embassy on the occasion of the Emperor’s birthday in 2018 and 2020.

Ikebana, also known in Japanese as kadō or “the way of the flower”, is one of the practices considered to be a Japanese “dō”, meaning “path” or “way of living.” The practice is a fundamental part of Japanese artistic culture, derived from Zen Buddhism and guiding the Japanese aesthetic sense and character.

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