Simple Ikebana Flower Tips and Year-End Reflections
Practical ikebana tips on choosing seasonal flowers and colors for balanced arrangements, plus a gentle year-end reflection from Kyoto.
Just like that, 2025 is almost over. How was your year? Did you try something new or take on any new challenges?
This year, I truly challenged myself. I joined more NYC pop-ups and local events in NYC, moved to Kyoto, launched the HanaYou Ikebana Journal and opened HanaYou's Kyoto Ikebana Studio. Over the past two months especially, HanaYou has grown beautifully here in Kyoto, and I’m so grateful that we’ve been happily busy.
In between those busy days, we’ve also enjoyed small but precious family moments and spent time with our Kyoto local friends. Little by little, we are finally getting to know this city more deeply.
When we first moved to Kyoto, we were completely focused on starting HanaYou and building new connections. Now, as December arrives, both locals and travelers are in a holiday mood, enjoying the final moments of the year. HanaYou is also feeling that gentle holiday rhythm, slowing down just a little and enjoying the season.
It’s time for me to wrap up this year and begin setting goals for the next one.
How about you? I hope you’re enjoying this holiday season, and I wish you a beautiful start to the New Year.
A kid's life in Japan
At the end of November, Kyoto fills with travelers from within Japan. They come from all over, and the flocks of kids visiting from schools around the country especially stick out. My image of Kyoto has always been that of a classic school trip destination in late November, when the city is full of children walking around in groups and experiencing Japan's cultural heritage first-hand.
In most places in Japan, children’s lives feel quite safe and peaceful. When I was little, I walked home with my friends after school. On weekends, I would walk to my friends’ houses without any appointment: just ring the doorbell and ask to play. That was a very typical Japanese childhood.
Last weekend, our neighbor’s daughter paid us a surprise visit, and she and my daughter played together by themselves around the Kamo River. We love that our kids can still play freely and safely without cell phones (but we do ask our daughter keep her AirTag with her, just in case). These days, she rides her bike to school every day, and she absolutely loves it. Her bike is the cutest color (she calls it "mint green"), and she fell in love with it at first sight.
When I see my daughter in Kyoto, she truly looks like a child living live to the fullest, free to explore and grow with bit of independence. I hope this kind of childhood continues forever. And I hope children can always be children.
This week, paid members can continue below for the following content:
- How to choose flowers for your ikebana arrangements
- An ikebana how-to video with chrysanthemums (and how to approach the ominous number 4!)