UPCOMING EVENTS
Ikebana - The Way of Flowers
Annual Exhibition, Ikebana Demonstration cum LunchDate: Saturday 9 April 2016 (Exhibition 8th through 10th April)
Time: 2.30 pm - 5.30 pm
Venue: Concourse, City Square, Johor Bahru
Cost: $80 Members, $100 Non Members
Cost: $80 Members, $100 Non Members
Food: Japanese and Local Fusion Cuisine.
Dress: Floral!
Message from Our President
"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant;
if we did not have sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome " -Anne Bradstreet
if we did not have sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome " -Anne Bradstreet
Spring is nearly here.
We celebrated "Shoshun 初春 - Early Spring" yesterday in celebration of the Japanese New Year.
Mr Hideaki Fujita, Headmaster of the Japanese School Johore Bahru gave a most informative talk on 'The significance of New Year to the Japanese'.
Our guest demonstrators Angela Kek from the Sogetsu School & Chris Parry from Ohara School of Ikebana gave us their renditions of early spring arrangements to an appreciative audience. Everything Japanese were arrayed, food included. Guests came in all Japanese inspired attire. All looked very festive. There was even a prize for the best dressed. All in all we had a very successful and enjoyable event. I would like to thank chapter board and all members who had contributed to the success of the event. A special thanks to our Japanese members Shizuyo and Tomoko for bringing in their personal items for display.
Now, it is time to take note of the program that all of us are looking forward to- our Annual Exhibition, Demonstration cum Hi Tea. "IKEBANA -THE WAY OF FLOWERS". please see event details above. We are privileged this year to have been given space in the most prestigious shopping mall in JB where we can expect more than 90,000 visitors to pass through our exhibition area for the 3 days that we are there.
I cordially invite ALL members of IIJB to come in full force to take part in the exhibition. It is time now to go to your ikebana Teachers to prepare for your master pieces to go on show! Puan Hajjah Kamisah Hassan is our Exhibition Chairman and Hall Chairman is Datin Shirley Cheah.
I am looking forward to a beautiful, successful and well participated exhibition in City Square.
Friendship Through Flowers,
Datin Ong Kid Ching
Friendship Through Flowers,
Datin Ong Kid Ching
PREVIOUS EVENTS
Shoshun, 5 Jan, 2016, by Peggy Loh
Ikebana International Johor Baru (IIJB) Chapter 235, recently celebrated Ohsogatsu, the Japanese New Year with the event, Shoshun Early Spring.
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| IIJB president, Datin Ong Kid Ching [Right] with best- dressed winner, Shizuyo Hiroi [2nd from Right] and members who dressed in Japanese inspired outfits and accessories |
Graced by charter president, Tunku Shahariah bte Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman, members and guests were encouraged to dress in Japanese inspired outfits and accessories to welcome the new year.
“We are pleased to start the year with 10 new members and one transfer member from Tokyo,” said IIJB president, Datin Ong Kid Ching, in her opening address.
To explain the significance of the Japanese New Year, the Johor Baru Japanese School principal, Hideaki Fujita, was invited to share insights into their new year culture and traditions.
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| Chris Parry demonstrating his second arrangement designed in the Ohara school of Ikebana |
Using photographs for illustrations, he described Japanese traditions in spring cleaning, rice cake eating, bell-ringing at temples, greeting the royal family, visits to the shrine, festive food and postcard greetings.
The highlight of the event was the demonstration of floral arrangements by advance students in their respective schools of Ikebana.
Chris Parry, who holds an Assistant Teacher Certificate from the Ohara school, created two arrangements entitled, “January” and “March” using only native plants from his own garden and neighbourhood.
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| Angela Kek demonstrating her second arrangement designed in the Sogetsu school of Ikebana |
Angela Kek, a third grade Sankyu Shihan diploma holder of the Sogetsu school, showed one arrangement in the variation one style and another in freestyle.
In line with the chapter’s mission to celebrate the art of Ikebana and Japanese culture, guests at the Japanese themed event received a charming kimono origami attached to a nengajo, a traditional Japanese new year’s card, as souvenirs. Elegant in a traditional kimono, Shizuyo Hiroi, was recognised as the best-dressed person among guests and members who wore Japanese inspired outfits.
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| Origami folded as a charming kimono attached to a nengajo, a traditional Japanese New Year's card |
This was published in The Malaysian Insider and on PeggyLoh.com
As II JB had to cancel the proposed trip to the Singapore Botanical Gardens because of the health hazard posed by the prevailing haze, the Chapter approached Datin Shirley Cheah, Director of the Sogetsu Study Group of Johor Bahru for us to join them in their next programme.. She graciously agreed to a joint programme. Our members were quite enthusiastic about this as a number of us had enjoyed a bamboo workshop before, also conducted by Mr Peter Chin.
Peter Chin, the facilitator, is the President of the Floral Designers Society of Singapore and a well-known personality in floral circles. He and his team put in a lot of work preparing for the workshop. They had to cut about 60 pieces of bamboo to the required length, make preliminary slits in the cut bamboo and mark lines to help us make further cuts ourselves. In spite of all that, we still needed quite a bit of assistance to shape our bamboo into the lovely container
Peter was very patient and smiling the whole time. He cut his fingers more than once in order to protect ours! As an example he made an arrangement using one of the vases. He followed up with a large and impressive creation using a structure of bigger pieces of bamboo. We were each given some flowers and leaves to create our own designs. As usual, there was a lot of enthusiasm as everyone set to work at once.
The Chapter presented both Datin Shirley Cheah and Mr. Peter Chin with Certificates of Appreciation. In addition Mr Peter Chin was given an honorarium of RM400. Datin Ong Kid Ching donated one of her hand-made ceramic vases and two RM50 ang pows towards the lucky draw. The lucky winner of the vase was Catherine Chea. A total of 24 members attended the workshop. It was a delightful afternoon and our thanks again to Datin Shirley Cheah for making us feel welcome.
To see more photos >>> click here
To see more photos >>> click here
13th Asian Regional Conference, Nov 12-15, 2015, by Datin Ong Kid Ching
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| With International President Junko Katano |
The conference was held in The Grand Hotel in Taipeh, Taiwan and hosted by Taipeh chapter 105 under the leadership of President Dorothy Kuei-Chu Lin and the abled Conference Chairman Lansing Chen. There were a total of 397 conference participants from 39 chapters from 12 countries. IIJB Chapter 235 was represented by two full registered delegates: Datin Shirley Cheah and myself and Serena Chew and Amy Tan joined us for the farewell dinner.
The ikebana exhibition was very impressive featuring more than 250 arrangements from more than 10 schools with two days of ikebana demonstrations organized to feast the eyes of all the participants. Both Datin Shirley and myself participated in the exhibition. Ms. Akane Teshigahara, Iemoto from the Sogetsu was the main guest demonstrator for the conference who gave a stunning finale with lighting effect to 2 hr hour long demonstration. The other overseas demonstrators were Hui-min Chiu, Christopher Lim, Rekha Reddy, Naomi Zayasu, Lily Zhang & Y.T.Chi Chen separately from Ikenobo, Sogetsu, Ohara, Kozan ryu, Ichiyo and Chinese floral art.
International President Junko Katano was present together with Dorothy Lin as the Chairperson and more than 30 Presidents from the various chapters actively participating in all the business meetings. In the business meet, a most important decision was reached - the 14th Asian regional conference will be hosted by Hong Kong chapter in 2018. Christine Ng from the next host chapter presented a very well prepared speech.
Other highlights were the local craft workshops - accessory and bamboo container making on different days which drew big crowds. The 'Friendship Room' needs a special mention as it was a very good place to interact with members from all over the world. It was open, at no charge during the days of the conference with snacks and drinks contributed by members from different chapters taking part in the conference with on going crafts taught by volunteers from the host chapter. I thoroughly enjoyed the sessions in the room !
The conference was bookended with a Welcome dinner on the first evening of the conference where all were requested to put on our national costumes to identify us from the countries we were from, which turned out to be really awesome. Then there was the Sayonara (farewell) dinner where some countries were requested to put up a show of talent! Members of Spore & JB chapters joined forces to bravely put up 2 communal song and dance performances of Rasa Sayang and Chan Mali Chan which was very well received. I gave a brief explanation of the performance in both English and Mandarin before the show. It was a very beautiful evening with participants exchanging gifts and addresses.
It was not a very long conference, but there was much to learn in all aspects. I renewed old friendships and made many new ones. No matter how many conferences I have attended, every one is different and every one is a new experience for me. I urge members to try to attend a conference if you have the opportunity. You will find it worthwhile.
I'm looking forward to the next conference already. The South American Conference in June 2016. Join me!
To see more photos >>> click here
The ikebana exhibition was very impressive featuring more than 250 arrangements from more than 10 schools with two days of ikebana demonstrations organized to feast the eyes of all the participants. Both Datin Shirley and myself participated in the exhibition. Ms. Akane Teshigahara, Iemoto from the Sogetsu was the main guest demonstrator for the conference who gave a stunning finale with lighting effect to 2 hr hour long demonstration. The other overseas demonstrators were Hui-min Chiu, Christopher Lim, Rekha Reddy, Naomi Zayasu, Lily Zhang & Y.T.Chi Chen separately from Ikenobo, Sogetsu, Ohara, Kozan ryu, Ichiyo and Chinese floral art.
International President Junko Katano was present together with Dorothy Lin as the Chairperson and more than 30 Presidents from the various chapters actively participating in all the business meetings. In the business meet, a most important decision was reached - the 14th Asian regional conference will be hosted by Hong Kong chapter in 2018. Christine Ng from the next host chapter presented a very well prepared speech.
Other highlights were the local craft workshops - accessory and bamboo container making on different days which drew big crowds. The 'Friendship Room' needs a special mention as it was a very good place to interact with members from all over the world. It was open, at no charge during the days of the conference with snacks and drinks contributed by members from different chapters taking part in the conference with on going crafts taught by volunteers from the host chapter. I thoroughly enjoyed the sessions in the room !
The conference was bookended with a Welcome dinner on the first evening of the conference where all were requested to put on our national costumes to identify us from the countries we were from, which turned out to be really awesome. Then there was the Sayonara (farewell) dinner where some countries were requested to put up a show of talent! Members of Spore & JB chapters joined forces to bravely put up 2 communal song and dance performances of Rasa Sayang and Chan Mali Chan which was very well received. I gave a brief explanation of the performance in both English and Mandarin before the show. It was a very beautiful evening with participants exchanging gifts and addresses.
It was not a very long conference, but there was much to learn in all aspects. I renewed old friendships and made many new ones. No matter how many conferences I have attended, every one is different and every one is a new experience for me. I urge members to try to attend a conference if you have the opportunity. You will find it worthwhile.
I'm looking forward to the next conference already. The South American Conference in June 2016. Join me!
To see more photos >>> click here
Bamboo Workshop, 6 Oct, 2015, by Mrs Goh Choo Saik
As II JB had to cancel the proposed trip to the Singapore Botanical Gardens because of the health hazard posed by the prevailing haze, the Chapter approached Datin Shirley Cheah, Director of the Sogetsu Study Group of Johor Bahru for us to join them in their next programme.. She graciously agreed to a joint programme. Our members were quite enthusiastic about this as a number of us had enjoyed a bamboo workshop before, also conducted by Mr Peter Chin.Peter Chin, the facilitator, is the President of the Floral Designers Society of Singapore and a well-known personality in floral circles. He and his team put in a lot of work preparing for the workshop. They had to cut about 60 pieces of bamboo to the required length, make preliminary slits in the cut bamboo and mark lines to help us make further cuts ourselves. In spite of all that, we still needed quite a bit of assistance to shape our bamboo into the lovely container
Peter was very patient and smiling the whole time. He cut his fingers more than once in order to protect ours! As an example he made an arrangement using one of the vases. He followed up with a large and impressive creation using a structure of bigger pieces of bamboo. We were each given some flowers and leaves to create our own designs. As usual, there was a lot of enthusiasm as everyone set to work at once.
The Chapter presented both Datin Shirley Cheah and Mr. Peter Chin with Certificates of Appreciation. In addition Mr Peter Chin was given an honorarium of RM400. Datin Ong Kid Ching donated one of her hand-made ceramic vases and two RM50 ang pows towards the lucky draw. The lucky winner of the vase was Catherine Chea. A total of 24 members attended the workshop. It was a delightful afternoon and our thanks again to Datin Shirley Cheah for making us feel welcome.
To see more photos >>> click here
News
Members
A warm welcome to our new members Datin Coreen Lim and Yvonne Kok who are off to a roaring start exhibiting Ohara arrangements at our recent Oshogatsu event.
