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adrianchan22 · 08-26-2006, 08:42 PM

Middle-aged men put the mettle to the petal

Japan's increasingly effeminate fellers are falling for flower arrangement with a furious frequency, according to Shukan Bunshun (8/31).
Male numbers are up at cultural center classes dedicated to traditional Japanese arts, eating into the dominance women have until now held when it comes to maintaining the daintier side of Japan's past.
A decade ago, men made up less than 20 percent of student numbers in classes in ikebana, or flower-arranging, held the Asahi Cultural Center in Shinjuku, but by 2003, that had grown to more than 30 percent and has continued swelling ever since.
Other cultural centers also report that more men are getting into activities like traditional dance and the tea ceremony, which have in modern times largely been the domain of women.
"When men insert driftwood or Japanese silver grass into the base of an arrangement, they produce an elegance that is almost therapeutic," Hirosuke Kawanishi, instructor of a men's flower-arranging class at the Yomiuri NTV Cultural Center Keiyo in Tokyo, tells Shukan Bunshun.
Kawanishi says he started the men's flower-arranging classes after being approached by a 50-something widower interested in learning the ancient art of ikebana.
Hide Waku of the Tokyo Chapter of the Ikenobo school of flower-arranging, one of Japan's largest ikebana institutions, says that although overall numbers of flower fiddlers are down, more guys are getting their paws onto petals. He says that older men in particular are drawn to flower-arrangement and points out that the art originally began with the samurai during feudal times.
Isao Kumakura, head of the Hayashibara Museum of Art, says that men in touch with flowers are merely returning to their roots.
"Men have returned to what had become a women's world, which is a wonderful thing. When refined people gather together, the more power they possess, the more likely they are to look after the spiritual and cultural," Kumakura tells Shukan Bunshun. "When the president of an IT company develops a love for traditional culture, I get the feeling of a new kind of refinement, which I find to be very enjoyable." (By Ryann Connell)

August 25, 2006

source:mainichi daily jp

note: this is interesting to know that their tradition such as flower arrangement or tea ceremony is no longer only for women, but also male japanese as well.

08-26-2006, 08:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
adrianchan22 adrianchan22 has no status. Status: Never End Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Malaysia Age: 20 Posts: 342	Middle-aged men put the mettle to the petal Middle-aged men put the mettle to the petal Japan's increasingly effeminate fellers are falling for flower arrangement with a furious frequency, according to Shukan Bunshun (8/31). Male numbers are up at cultural center classes dedicated to traditional Japanese arts, eating into the dominance women have until now held when it comes to maintaining the daintier side of Japan's past. A decade ago, men made up less than 20 percent of student numbers in classes in ikebana, or flower-arranging, held the Asahi Cultural Center in Shinjuku, but by 2003, that had grown to more than 30 percent and has continued swelling ever since. Other cultural centers also report that more men are getting into activities like traditional dance and the tea ceremony, which have in modern times largely been the domain of women. "When men insert driftwood or Japanese silver grass into the base of an arrangement, they produce an elegance that is almost therapeutic," Hirosuke Kawanishi, instructor of a men's flower-arranging class at the Yomiuri NTV Cultural Center Keiyo in Tokyo, tells Shukan Bunshun. Kawanishi says he started the men's flower-arranging classes after being approached by a 50-something widower interested in learning the ancient art of ikebana. Hide Waku of the Tokyo Chapter of the Ikenobo school of flower-arranging, one of Japan's largest ikebana institutions, says that although overall numbers of flower fiddlers are down, more guys are getting their paws onto petals. He says that older men in particular are drawn to flower-arrangement and points out that the art originally began with the samurai during feudal times. Isao Kumakura, head of the Hayashibara Museum of Art, says that men in touch with flowers are merely returning to their roots. "Men have returned to what had become a women's world, which is a wonderful thing. When refined people gather together, the more power they possess, the more likely they are to look after the spiritual and cultural," Kumakura tells Shukan Bunshun. "When the president of an IT company develops a love for traditional culture, I get the feeling of a new kind of refinement, which I find to be very enjoyable." (By Ryann Connell) August 25, 2006 source:mainichi daily jp note: this is interesting to know that their tradition such as flower arrangement or tea ceremony is no longer only for women, but also male japanese as well. __________________

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