Press Release: Ikebana Exhibition in Tantallon NS

Added on by the ikebana shop.

Our ikebana exhibition for 2026 will be held at the Tantallon Public Library on May 21-23, 2026.

This event is part of the Asian Heritage Month celebrations.

The exhibition will be presented by Miyako Ballesteros (Sogetsu School of Ikebana) and her students. Please come and enjoy the ikebana.

Admission is free.

May 21st (Thu) 13:00-21:00 exhibition hours
May 22nd (Fri) 09:00-18:00 exhibition hours
May 23rd (Sat) 10:00-15:30 exhibition hours
(May 23rd (Sat) 14:00-14:30 live demo by Miyako)

At the Tantallon Public Library. (3646 Hammonds Plains Rd, Upper Tantallon NS)

We hope to see you there!

Shop Holiday

Added on by the ikebana shop.

We are taking a break for some much needed rest!

The bricks-and-mortar shop will be closed from Feb 25th to Mar 10th, 2026.

We will not be able to process any online orders during this period as well.

Thank you for your understanding. We will be back refreshed!

Happy New Year 2026!

Added on by the ikebana shop.

Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu!
明けましておめでとうございます！

We thank you for all your support in 2025. Let’s hit the ground galloping in the Year of the Horse into even more greener pastures!

Green Tea From Shizuoka

Added on by the ikebana shop.

In Japan, the 3 most famous teas are said to be those produced in Uji (Kyoto), Sayama (Saitama) and Shizuoka. Many years ago, we brought in green tea from Uji, Kyoto. Perhaps, it was only appropriate to start with Uji as it is known as the birth place of Japanese tea; but now, we think our customers are ready to try other green teas produced outside of Uji.

This year we travelled to Shizuoka and visited a local tea fair there. Shizuoka Prefecture is nestled at the foot of the Mt. Fuji. Just like Uji, tea culture is quite prevalant there, even tangible.

Mt. Fuji

Ladies on their way to a tea ceremony.

Many places selling different types/grades of green tea. Also selling all sorts of yokan (a sweet jellied red bean snack that goes well with green tea!)

Different varieties/grades of tea!

Yokan.

It was an educational trip where we saw how green tea is kneaded and rolled after the steaming process. We got to taste different teas as well!

“Massaging” tea leaves after steaming.

Tea tasting!

We introduce to you matcha from Asahina, Shizuoka! Asahina is an area of Shizuoka well-known for high quality matcha and gyokuro. We brought 3 different grades of matcha for you to try: culinary, superior, and premium.

Our Matcha line-up from Asahina, Shizuoka.

We also have a fukamushi (deep-steamed) green tea from Kakegawa, Shizuoka. Please try and compare the difference with our Uji tea! Kakegawa is the area of Shizuoka famous for fukamushi teas!

Kagoyose Fukamushi Tea from Kakegawa, Shizuoka.

The flower from Camellia Sinensis, the tea plant.

We hope to gradually introduce more green tea from Shizuoka. Please try them. We hope you will love them as much as our teas from Uji!

My Ikebana: At Sogetsu HQ Oct-Nov, 2025

Added on by the ikebana shop.

It is always a pleasure to visit and take lessons from the masters at the Sogetsu Headquarters in Tokyo. Flower material is always abundant and sometimes it feels like we have too many choices!

Here are the arrangements I worked on this time around.

27-Oct-2025

This one uses an interesting plant. Gomphocarpus physocarpus, the balloon plant. Japanese name: フウセントウワタ (“fuusentouwata”)

10-Nov-2025

I hope you like them. —Miyako

Shipments To The U.S. Restart

Added on by the ikebana shop.

We are pleased to announce that shipments to the U.S. have resumed.

The order process will be the same as before. However the new U.S. government rules require that the duties based on the current tariff rates be paid before shipment. So when we send you your order quotation, you will see the duties and clearance fees charged by the U.S. government added on to your order total.

Visit the Canada Post webpage for more details on U.S. sending requirements.

Please also note that the rules may change without any prior notice. All we can do is to try to react as best as we can.

Thank you for your understanding.

The 106th Sogetsu Annual Exhibition in Nihombashi

Added on by the ikebana shop.

My sensei gifted me with tickets to the 106th Sogetsu Annual Ikebana Exhibition at the Takashimaya Department Store in Nihombashi, Tokyo. 『花は心』 ”Flowers Are The Heart”.

At the entrance was a huge bamboo installation created by Sogetsu Iemoto Akane Teshigahara. It was like a graceful dance of bamboo, showing speed of movement and yet still elegant.

Here are some more of the beautiful arrangements.

And… how lucky for me to meet Iemoto Akane Teshigara herself! It was an honour!