This came just as I was uploading a post--so I added the festival at the end--THANK YOU!! I would love to go.... I started Butter--was so glad you reminded me about it. Fantastic book!!!
Thank you so much for reading!!! Sensei is always saying to listen to what they want to do when making an arrangement. The attention to their front and back and their natural line.... they are speaking to how they want to appear in the vase. I am sure you have heard stories like this in Japan many times about the sound of lotus when they open "pop!" but I wrote a bit about it here. https://3quarksdaily.com/3quarksdaily/2017/01/the-sound-of-lotus-blossoming.html I have never forgotten the charming idea of listening to flowers!!!
Wonderful ikebana, especially how different it looks under different lighting. Could nageire 抛入花 could be related to the statement, 'I just threw this together', which we usually apply to meals or outfits? I love the idea of 'throwing together' a ikebana; it seems so oxymoronic. About cherry blossoms, they have incredible importance in Korean culture too, probably through the Japanese occupation. The series I just watched, 'Doubt', ends with a shot of a cherry tree in full blossom in front of a troubled household. Snow also carries a message: If there's snowfall on a first date, one will be with that person forever. Both very popular tropes. Your posts on ikebana have raised an interesting question: Was flower arrangement in the West independent of the ikebana? My mother made flower arrangements at the Garden Club. Some were astonishingly beautiful and original and won prizes. But she had no connection at all to Japanese or Chinese culture.
That is wonderful! Are you sure they were cherry blossom trees in the show and not plum or peach? I’m curious. Plum is my favorite and I think people go crazy for a Plum blossoms in China and definitely peach blossoms as well and maybe cherry blossoms? But I’m not sure about that!!! My mom also was an expert flower arranger, but she did the European style. Like Japan, I think European flower arrangement started as decorations at temples and at Tombs And then something practiced in elite household. It’s really a completely different approach to arrangement… Do you remember that post I wrote about Dutch still life flower arrangement? And how it is boggled my mind because you had to fill up all of the space and it was just so filled with flowers! I loved it it was really different! ,
What I remember of her arrangements they weren't European at all, but rather spare, often landscape format, not in vases but on shallow plates. In my memory, they looked more Japanese, or as if she were somehow channeling the Japanese ikebana style. I have no idea what her fellow club members arranged, but hers were lovely. She also used dried seed casings and other natural components too.
Somehow, I missed this comment. Your memory is so beautiful. I actually remember my mom arranging flowers, but I can’t recall what they look like! It’s been a long time. She actually did a lot of things with silk flowers!
Constance Spry was the queen of modern flower arranging in Britain, introducing the notion of using wild and hedgerow flowers, grasses and pussy willow in elegant presentations. She began in the mid 1920s, so it is not impossible that she was influenced by the taste for Japanism, Liberty's, Art Deco and so on. There are some interesting documentaries about her on YouTube. She went out of fashion with Fanny Craddock but came back with minimalism.
Gorgeous arrangements! So sorry about he passing of your friend. Getting a first break from someone is a poignant memory, I am sure, and one that is as strong and tender as the flower blossoms you've arranged here.
The new International Booker Prize longlist is out with two translations from Japanese - Saou Ichikawa / Polly Barton - Hunchback and Kawakami / Asa Yoneda - Under the Eye of the Big Bird
Sharing the link here mostly for the gorgeous flowers
I was excited about it. I actually watched it in real time to see the announcement. It was kind of a surprising long list! I like to watch all these book tubers and they made all these predictions and only a few of the ones were on it…. but I am going to start hunchback for my next book! Have you read either of the books? I love Polly Barton translations I’m looking forward to reading it! did you we didn’t have the books on the long list yet?
Yes very different this year. I read Butter not long ago so will be interested to read Hunchback. Usual battle with the public library to find copies, I usually buy a hardback of the one I think will win - Big Bird in this case - and then select another 4 or 5 if I can get them in time - Solenoid seems intriguing and looking forward to Eurotrash for entertainment (Travels with My Aunt revisited?!). Hoping one day my Japanese will be strong enough to read the original in parallel to the translation.
Reminded me about butter! I think I might actually read that next even though I was planning to read hunchback as soon as I get it. I feel less interested in under the eye of the big Bird even though I did buy it! Did you like butter? Have you read Polly Barton’s memoir? It’s definitely worth reading I think! And it seems like people have mixed feelings about Eurotrash some people love it and some people hate it but now you’ve inspired me to go for it because travels with my aunt is one of my favorite books of all times!
I did like Butter, mostly I think because I was impressed with Polly's translating - how does she get through so much work? Fifty Sounds is on my "must buy" list, thank you for reminding me. Will let you know about Eurotrash. These are my distractions from the "serious" stuff!
Found this:
https://translatedbybristol.com/about/
A new festival of literary translation in May 2025 in Bristol set up by Polly Barton herself.
My daughter lives in Bristol so I will definitely be going for some of it.
Please share around. I will find out if any of the events will be on-line as well as in-person.
This came just as I was uploading a post--so I added the festival at the end--THANK YOU!! I would love to go.... I started Butter--was so glad you reminded me about it. Fantastic book!!!
I wonder what insights you have about “listening”to flowers when doing Ikebana?
Thank you so much for reading!!! Sensei is always saying to listen to what they want to do when making an arrangement. The attention to their front and back and their natural line.... they are speaking to how they want to appear in the vase. I am sure you have heard stories like this in Japan many times about the sound of lotus when they open "pop!" but I wrote a bit about it here. https://3quarksdaily.com/3quarksdaily/2017/01/the-sound-of-lotus-blossoming.html I have never forgotten the charming idea of listening to flowers!!!
I look forward to reading your lotus blossom text.
Wonderful ikebana, especially how different it looks under different lighting. Could nageire 抛入花 could be related to the statement, 'I just threw this together', which we usually apply to meals or outfits? I love the idea of 'throwing together' a ikebana; it seems so oxymoronic. About cherry blossoms, they have incredible importance in Korean culture too, probably through the Japanese occupation. The series I just watched, 'Doubt', ends with a shot of a cherry tree in full blossom in front of a troubled household. Snow also carries a message: If there's snowfall on a first date, one will be with that person forever. Both very popular tropes. Your posts on ikebana have raised an interesting question: Was flower arrangement in the West independent of the ikebana? My mother made flower arrangements at the Garden Club. Some were astonishingly beautiful and original and won prizes. But she had no connection at all to Japanese or Chinese culture.
That is wonderful! Are you sure they were cherry blossom trees in the show and not plum or peach? I’m curious. Plum is my favorite and I think people go crazy for a Plum blossoms in China and definitely peach blossoms as well and maybe cherry blossoms? But I’m not sure about that!!! My mom also was an expert flower arranger, but she did the European style. Like Japan, I think European flower arrangement started as decorations at temples and at Tombs And then something practiced in elite household. It’s really a completely different approach to arrangement… Do you remember that post I wrote about Dutch still life flower arrangement? And how it is boggled my mind because you had to fill up all of the space and it was just so filled with flowers! I loved it it was really different! ,
What I remember of her arrangements they weren't European at all, but rather spare, often landscape format, not in vases but on shallow plates. In my memory, they looked more Japanese, or as if she were somehow channeling the Japanese ikebana style. I have no idea what her fellow club members arranged, but hers were lovely. She also used dried seed casings and other natural components too.
Somehow, I missed this comment. Your memory is so beautiful. I actually remember my mom arranging flowers, but I can’t recall what they look like! It’s been a long time. She actually did a lot of things with silk flowers!
Constance Spry was the queen of modern flower arranging in Britain, introducing the notion of using wild and hedgerow flowers, grasses and pussy willow in elegant presentations. She began in the mid 1920s, so it is not impossible that she was influenced by the taste for Japanism, Liberty's, Art Deco and so on. There are some interesting documentaries about her on YouTube. She went out of fashion with Fanny Craddock but came back with minimalism.
I had never heard of her. I’m going to look her up right now!
Gorgeous arrangements! So sorry about he passing of your friend. Getting a first break from someone is a poignant memory, I am sure, and one that is as strong and tender as the flower blossoms you've arranged here.
Thank you so much, Sally I really loved him. It was such a shock that he died so suddenly he really was a gentleman!
The new International Booker Prize longlist is out with two translations from Japanese - Saou Ichikawa / Polly Barton - Hunchback and Kawakami / Asa Yoneda - Under the Eye of the Big Bird
Sharing the link here mostly for the gorgeous flowers
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/2025-international-booker-prize-longlist-revealed/?utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_qPcZ5CWnKqBmllvAuPOVDAQF2aWJpyAFVcalNDt8OVEjQHLHLSNIBv9u8TsYB99G4QJL-2kRtE7G9zHJgOMa1on9V15lUWveQpuRjGga8E5qKuDk&_hsmi=349083116&utm_content=349083116&utm_source=hs_email
I was excited about it. I actually watched it in real time to see the announcement. It was kind of a surprising long list! I like to watch all these book tubers and they made all these predictions and only a few of the ones were on it…. but I am going to start hunchback for my next book! Have you read either of the books? I love Polly Barton translations I’m looking forward to reading it! did you we didn’t have the books on the long list yet?
Yes very different this year. I read Butter not long ago so will be interested to read Hunchback. Usual battle with the public library to find copies, I usually buy a hardback of the one I think will win - Big Bird in this case - and then select another 4 or 5 if I can get them in time - Solenoid seems intriguing and looking forward to Eurotrash for entertainment (Travels with My Aunt revisited?!). Hoping one day my Japanese will be strong enough to read the original in parallel to the translation.
Reminded me about butter! I think I might actually read that next even though I was planning to read hunchback as soon as I get it. I feel less interested in under the eye of the big Bird even though I did buy it! Did you like butter? Have you read Polly Barton’s memoir? It’s definitely worth reading I think! And it seems like people have mixed feelings about Eurotrash some people love it and some people hate it but now you’ve inspired me to go for it because travels with my aunt is one of my favorite books of all times!
I did like Butter, mostly I think because I was impressed with Polly's translating - how does she get through so much work? Fifty Sounds is on my "must buy" list, thank you for reminding me. Will let you know about Eurotrash. These are my distractions from the "serious" stuff!