6 Tools you need for Sogetsu Style Arrangement

At my last post, I talked about how ikebana is different from different schools. Today, I will help you prepare for taking Sogetsu ikebana lessons. When you start learning Ikebana, you will need to have some certain tools.

1. Flower Scissors Of course, you will need some tools to cut branches and stems. Sogetsu scissors look like this, As you can see, it looks quite different from normal scissors. You can purchase through online. However, you do not necessarily have to use Sogetsu scissors, you can use gardening scissors, too.

1. Kenzan (Spiky frog) Kenzan is the most important tool in Sogetsu style arrangement. It is called Spiky frog in English. It is used to put branches and flowers in place and it is made of heavy lead with spikes. It comes with different sizes and shapes.

1. Bucket Especially during summer, flowers are delicate and sensitive to heat, so you need a bucket to keep flowers in water. Buckets are also useful for “Mizukiri,” which is a water-absorption technique for flowers to last long.

2. Suiban (base) When you start learning Ikebana, you will be using Suiban, which is a shallow base. You put Kenzan in it and make an arrangement.

3. Textbook Especially first two years, you will be learning the basic styles and terms we use in ikebana and you will need Sogetsu textbook. It is both in Japanese and English.

4. Wire A wire can be used in so many different situations. You can bundle branches and secure branches in place. You can find wires for flowers at a gardening shop or craft shop. It would be useful if you have different thickness of wires for different purposes. You will also need a wire cutter since wires can destroy flower scissors.