Tsutomu Adachi

Hana Narai

Ikebana artist

Tsutomu Adachi©Hana Narai

Colourful ikebana

Tsutomu founded the studio Hana Narai
He pictures his arrangements in his mind
The vases he uses are all handcrafted by young local potters

It all began in Kyoto, the birthplace of the Japanese art of flower arranging. Tsutomu Adachi started studying with a teacher in 2004, then established his studio Hana Narai and in 2011 became a teacher himself. He works alone with the sound of his sons playing in the background. He takes inspiration from nature, from mountains, wood and rivers whilst on long walks. "I value natural materials as they are. You don’t need to modify flowers and tree branches to arrange them," he explains. But you have to be quick: "It takes me from one to 50 minutes maximum to make a composition. Flowers are living things: if you don’t arrange them soon after cutting them, they will weaken and die."

Interview

Tsutomu Adachi©Hana Narai

Tsutomu Adachi©Hana Narai

Do you make preparatory sketches?: No. When I begin, all the details of the composition have already been decided in my head. There’s no trial and error in ikebana: every piece is based on the knowledge you have previously acquired.
Is your ikebana style traditional?: I am experimenting with a new style that innovates traditional techniques. Traditional Japanese flowers have a very narrow colour palette, so I incorporate many foreign, colourful varieties. I love to combine traditional patterns with unusual flowers.
How do you view the mortality of flowers?: Arranging flowers means taking them from nature. My mission is to cut them into their most beautiful shape the very moment before they die, seizing their loveliness and perfection before it’s gone forever.
Why is Kyoto so special for ikebana?: The city is a sacred place for this art. Here you can find the most beautiful, high-quality traditional flowers from all over Japan. Living here has also given me the opportunity to collaborate with young and talented local potters who create vases for my ikebana.

Tsutomu Adachi is a master artisan: he began his career in 2011 and he started teaching in 2011