9th Annual Cultural Ikebana Exhibition

Celebrate the New Year through the beauty and symbolism of Japanese flower arrangements at the 9th Annual Cultural Ikebana Exhibition, presented by members of the Ikebana Teachers Association of Southern California. On view January 10-11, 2026 at the George J. Doizaki Gallery, this two-day exhibition invites visitors to experience the harmony, balance, and deep cultural meaning embedded in traditional and contemporary ikebana.

The exhibition opens with a festive New Year ceremony on January 10th, beginning at 11:00 am at the Isamu Noguchi Plaza. The celebration will feature the time-honored Kagami Biraki ceremony, a powerful taiko drum performance by Kodama Taiko, and mochitsuki, the communal pounding of rice to make mochi. Together, these auspicious rituals symbolize harmony, good fortune, renewal, and community, officially marking the opening of the exhibition as a sake barrel is ceremonially broken to welcome prosperity and unity for the year ahead.

Showcasing three distinct schools, Ikenobo, Sogetsu, and Ohara, the exhibition highlights the unique styles and philosophies that have shaped ikebana across generations. In honor of the New Year, teachers will create arrangements using symbolic seasonal materials such as pine, bamboo, plum blossoms, chrysanthemum, camellia, narcissus, orchid, peony, and nandina berry. Each work embodies wishes for longevity, resilience, renewal, and joy.

More than a display of floral design, this exhibition offers a moment of reflection and inspiration; a breath of calm at the start of a new year. Whether you're a longtime admirer of ikebana, curious about Japanese traditions, or simply seeking a meaningful seasonal experience, you’ll find beauty and intention in every arrangement.

See the exhibition in person and welcome the New Year with art, harmony, and hope.