Reflecting on the past and bringing hope for peace through Ikebana
2017/4/28
The Embassy of Japan and the Belau Tourism Association successfully organized the 3rd Ikebana flower arrangement event with a high-profile Japanese Ikebana artist, Ms. Koen Yokoi (Yokoi Sensei), under the theme of “Family and Peace” on April 22 and 23 at Ernguul Park.
On Saturday, April 22, many participants attended the two hour workshop sessions to learn the basic techniques of the Art of Ikebana and the Art of Japanese rock garden. For each session, Yokoi Sensei did a sample and provided materials for each participant to do their own work of art. Yokoi Sensei was pleased with everyone’s creativity and imagination and took time to appreciate each participant’s unique flower arrangement.
On Sunday, April 23, 10 contestants submitted their Ikebana flower arrangement works for the Ikebana contest, whose winners were announced at the closing ceremony. The First place winner for this year’s contest was Mrs. Helene Moros, who won a one night stay gift certificate donated by Palasia Hotel and a Japanese kimono donated by Yokoi Sensei. The second place winner was Mrs. Rose Bates, who won a one night stay gift certificate from Palasia Hotel. The 3rd place winner was Ms. Kolea Shonwalter, who won a dinner gift certificate for two people donated by Palau Royal Resort. The other prize winners were as follows: Ms. Keolani Emeterio for the Ikebana prize (a haori, another kind of Japanese traditional wear donated by Yokoi Sensei), Ms. Dinaly Remoket and Ms. Nicole Fagan for First Lady Prizes (gift certificates for body massage, manicure and pedicure donated by Melusch Dil), Ms. Anna Hideo and Ms. Sowang Tellei for Special prizes ($50.00 worth of gift certificates from WCTC), and Mr. Ngeyus Ngirachelsau and Idub Etpison for Best Try Prizes (Japanese pouches donated by Yokoi Sensei).
To highlight the Ikebana event, Yokoi Sensei captivated the audience with her spectacular performance inside the Jam house at the closing ceremony. Before the live Ikebana performance began, H.E. Toshiyuki Yamada, Ambassador of Japan to Palau, welcomed First Lady Debbie Remengesau, Dr. Minoru Ueki, former Ambassador of Palau to Japan, Honorable Laura Miles, Governor of Sonsorol, Dr. Yimnang Golbuu, CEO of Palau International Coral Reef Center, and everyone. In her brief remarks, Mrs. Leilani Reklai, BTA President, expressed her appreciation to Yokoi Sensei for sharing her knowledge on Ikebana flower arrangement with the people of Palau.
Yokoi Sensei’s Ikebana demonstration was dedicated to the commemoration of the 72nd anniversary of the end of WWII and the celebration of the bond of friendship between Japan and Palau. Dressed in her traditional Japanese kimono, Yokoi Sensei created a beautiful artwork using driftwood, tree branches, flame tree flowers also known as the Nanyo sakura, artificial Japanese sakura cherry blossoms brought from Japan, croton or kesuk, phoenix palm or demailei and other local plants and flowers. It is her hope that the audience were able to enjoy and feel the beauty of sakura cherry blossoms and that through the harmony of Japanese and Palauan floral materials, her Ikebana work provided an inspiration for unity and peace to those who are still close to the memory of the war and those who belong to younger, more distant generations.
The Embassy of Japan and The Belau Tourism Association would like to give special thanks to all the supporters who contributed to the success of this year’s Ikebana Workshop: Delta Airlines, Palasia Hotel, Elilai Restaurant, Palau Royal Resort, WCTC, Melusch Dil, Palau Visitors Authority, Echo Paradise FM, Ngara Ubeng, Palau National Olympic Committee, Ekei Women’s Association, Peleliu State Government, Ngchesar State Government, Palau-Taiwan Farmers Association, Coconut Hut, Donut House, Ms. Tova Harel & Fish ‘n Fins, Belau National Museum, Mr. Greg Gordon, Mr. & Mrs. Jackson Ngiraingas, and all the workshop and Ikebana contest participants.
On Saturday, April 22, many participants attended the two hour workshop sessions to learn the basic techniques of the Art of Ikebana and the Art of Japanese rock garden. For each session, Yokoi Sensei did a sample and provided materials for each participant to do their own work of art. Yokoi Sensei was pleased with everyone’s creativity and imagination and took time to appreciate each participant’s unique flower arrangement.
On Sunday, April 23, 10 contestants submitted their Ikebana flower arrangement works for the Ikebana contest, whose winners were announced at the closing ceremony. The First place winner for this year’s contest was Mrs. Helene Moros, who won a one night stay gift certificate donated by Palasia Hotel and a Japanese kimono donated by Yokoi Sensei. The second place winner was Mrs. Rose Bates, who won a one night stay gift certificate from Palasia Hotel. The 3rd place winner was Ms. Kolea Shonwalter, who won a dinner gift certificate for two people donated by Palau Royal Resort. The other prize winners were as follows: Ms. Keolani Emeterio for the Ikebana prize (a haori, another kind of Japanese traditional wear donated by Yokoi Sensei), Ms. Dinaly Remoket and Ms. Nicole Fagan for First Lady Prizes (gift certificates for body massage, manicure and pedicure donated by Melusch Dil), Ms. Anna Hideo and Ms. Sowang Tellei for Special prizes ($50.00 worth of gift certificates from WCTC), and Mr. Ngeyus Ngirachelsau and Idub Etpison for Best Try Prizes (Japanese pouches donated by Yokoi Sensei).
To highlight the Ikebana event, Yokoi Sensei captivated the audience with her spectacular performance inside the Jam house at the closing ceremony. Before the live Ikebana performance began, H.E. Toshiyuki Yamada, Ambassador of Japan to Palau, welcomed First Lady Debbie Remengesau, Dr. Minoru Ueki, former Ambassador of Palau to Japan, Honorable Laura Miles, Governor of Sonsorol, Dr. Yimnang Golbuu, CEO of Palau International Coral Reef Center, and everyone. In her brief remarks, Mrs. Leilani Reklai, BTA President, expressed her appreciation to Yokoi Sensei for sharing her knowledge on Ikebana flower arrangement with the people of Palau.
Yokoi Sensei’s Ikebana demonstration was dedicated to the commemoration of the 72nd anniversary of the end of WWII and the celebration of the bond of friendship between Japan and Palau. Dressed in her traditional Japanese kimono, Yokoi Sensei created a beautiful artwork using driftwood, tree branches, flame tree flowers also known as the Nanyo sakura, artificial Japanese sakura cherry blossoms brought from Japan, croton or kesuk, phoenix palm or demailei and other local plants and flowers. It is her hope that the audience were able to enjoy and feel the beauty of sakura cherry blossoms and that through the harmony of Japanese and Palauan floral materials, her Ikebana work provided an inspiration for unity and peace to those who are still close to the memory of the war and those who belong to younger, more distant generations.
The Embassy of Japan and The Belau Tourism Association would like to give special thanks to all the supporters who contributed to the success of this year’s Ikebana Workshop: Delta Airlines, Palasia Hotel, Elilai Restaurant, Palau Royal Resort, WCTC, Melusch Dil, Palau Visitors Authority, Echo Paradise FM, Ngara Ubeng, Palau National Olympic Committee, Ekei Women’s Association, Peleliu State Government, Ngchesar State Government, Palau-Taiwan Farmers Association, Coconut Hut, Donut House, Ms. Tova Harel & Fish ‘n Fins, Belau National Museum, Mr. Greg Gordon, Mr. & Mrs. Jackson Ngiraingas, and all the workshop and Ikebana contest participants.