On February 13, 2023, RESOBOX conducted an online ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement) class for Pinterest, Inc., a digital media company based in San Francisco, California. This was part of the “Global employee morale program” adopted by many companies in the US, aimed at promoting employee self-growth and communication among employees.
52 employees from Pinterest’s offices all over the world participated in this class. The instructor, Ryoko Arnwine, has studied the Ikenobo school of ikebana for seven years in Japan and has worked as a flower designer at notable establishments such as The Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Each participant prepared a variety of colorful flowers such as roses, gerbera daisies, and tulips, along with a kenzan, a device used to hold flowers in place, and completed their own unique arrangements while learning the basics through the virtual seminar.
Later, a Pinterest representative contacted us to say “we received a lot of positive feedback from the participants.” Some participants were so enraptured by ikebana that they had already created their next piece.
In Japan as well as the United States, many people perceive ikebana as having a high barrier to entry. However, with a kenzan costing around $15 and flowers that can be easily acquired, it has become a popular hobby one can get started just by using ordinary household items such as vases and scissors.
Our online classes have become very popular, with requests coming in from across the globe after the pandemic. Among the various cultural classes available, Ikebana has been a big hit! We are delighted to have more people experience the charm of Ikebana through our classes and develop an interest in Japanese culture.
At RESOBOX, we offer various Japanese cultural classes, such as Ikebana, Sumi-e (ink painting), sushi rolling, and manga drawing. If you’re interested, please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information.