Misyoryu Sasaoka Iemoto

I’m a big fan of Ryuho Sasaoka, the school master of Japanese flower arrangement Misho-​ryu. Introduced in various media such as TV, newspapers, or magazines, he is smart, polite, intelligent, like a prince! I have long admired him as an ideal man. Sorry for my husband.
After I went to see his lectures or live shows several times, I wanted to take part in the trial lesson (which is held both in Kyoto and Tokyo) of his.
I took the Eizan railway (very cute trolley) on Demachiyanagi station and got off at Asukaicho, second or third station. Five minutes’ walk or so brought me to the destination. The class was carried out in the hall close to his large residence like a detached palace. Although on that day he spent busiest time on preparing for the exhibition of Kyoto branch to be held one of these days in Shoureninmonato, he politely and elaborately taught us how to arrange the flowers. In addition the vice master (his mother) gave me the entrance ticket of the exhibition. I was deeply moved by her kindness, but at the same time felt sorry that I should have purchased one.
The teaching was based on theoretical didactics by using illustration and measures. According to his teaching, even I who have clumsy hands was able to arrange the flower beautifully and neatly.
Japanese-​style arranging flowers are different from Western ones, in that it emphasizes the beauty of deduction and utilizing space. Western arranged flowers are gorgeous with many colorful flowers and leaves. On the other hand, the flower arrangement of Japan may not give showy impression, but gives us the beauty of simplicity, modesty and profoundness.