Already, one month of the new academic year is about to pass. It was said that the cherry blossoms would bloom earlier than usual this year, but ultimately, they bloomed in early April, a late-blooming variety. I attended the entrance ceremony because my son was promoted to elementary school, and the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, creating a beautiful memory.
Well, the cherry blossoms at the entrance ceremony are about admiring the flowers blooming on the planted trees, but in various public settings like ceremonies and restaurants, you often see flowers arranged in vases, don’t you?
Flowers displayed in such places are maximally beautified by combining various elements such as flower type, color, shape, size, composition, and vase using the technique (≒ art) called flower arrangement.
In Japan, there is the traditional art of flower arrangement known as “ikebana”. Both are arts involving flowers, but while ikebana has a spiritual aspect of training, flower arrangement leans more towards decorative purposes, originating from Western culture and specializing in design and color harmony.
I would like to introduce a collaboration project between floral designer Mahana and katana artist “Katana Kaicho” Miya Moto, who specializes in sword artistry, as I had the opportunity to work on such flower arrangement.
About the katana-e artist, Naru Miyamoto
I casually mentioned him earlier, but I must introduce Naru Miyamoto here. She graduated from the Nihon University College of Art and was discovered by Hiroshi Aramata. After that, she made “katana-e,” one of the techniques of kirie, her own path and began his full-fledged activities in Singapore.
Recently, she has also been involved in creating kirie-style Goshuin, and with her deep understanding of Japanese culture and performing arts, as well as her exceptional sense of kirie, she is an artist who excels in various fields.
Our relationship with her has been longstanding, collaborating since her time in Singapore. We have worked together, creating her artworks through our company, and vice versa, commissioning work from her. It’s been a mutual support system, allowing us to accomplish our work together.
Katana-e, or sword artistry, is characterized by creating works using a small sword. This small sword is custom-made from tamahagane, and by using several types of small swords, the artist infuses the artwork with soul. As these are intricate works, mass production is challenging, but thankfully, our company’s processing techniques and quality have been appreciated, leading to a long-standing business relationship.
Collaboration between Dragon God’s sword artistry and flowers
This story was shared with us by Naru Miyamoto. She expressed a desire to create a collaborative piece combining floral arrangements and sword artistry. To be honest, I couldn’t quite envision it, but I was excited to see what synergy could be created between floral pieces and paper-made multiples. There were specifications for the size to fit into a case, so the multiples were made slightly smaller than the usual size.
The multiple kirie used depicts a dragon deity holding a single cherry blossom with Mount Fuji in the background. It’s a representation of Kurikara Ryuo, an embodiment of Acala, the immovable wisdom king. This sword of exorcism severs evil spirits and worldly desires, doubling as a blade of wisdom. The dragon deity’s sword, deeply cherished by Naru Miyamoto, was meticulously crafted as a “Shichishitou” .
Introducing Mahana
Allow me to introduce Mahana, the floral designer who worked on the pieces for this collaboration. After handling bridal decorations at a renowned flower shop and floral arrangements in a prestigious hotel in Tokyo, Mahana ventured into independence in 2022. They opened a shop specializing in dried flowers and a café in Yokohama, and are currently preparing for a new start in Miura City after relocating.
Naru and Mahana have had a longstanding relationship, and this collaboration stemmed from Naru’s desire to deliver the multiple kirie in a way akin to “giving flowers.” She approached Mahana with this idea, and together, they made it a reality.
The finished product has arrived
What do you think? The vibrancy and floral arrangement blend seamlessly, don’t they? The gold trim and golden leaves provide a nice accent, creating a composition that draws the eye towards the central rose and kirigami. The hexagonal structure adds a sense of cohesion while also providing depth to the piece. Additionally, the harmony between the green and pink of the flowers is striking without being overwhelming.
You’ve created a magnificent piece. It’s already on display in the meeting room.