II Chapter 56 celebrated the Year of the
Dog at its New Year Luncheon. Members
of three different schools of ikebana presented
arrangements inspired by Utagawa Hiroshige's
woodblock print Distant View of Akiba of Enshu -
Kites of Fukuroi (Enshū
akiba enkei fukuroi no tako) from the series
One hundred famous views of the country (Shōkoku
meisho hyakkei). Jean Marutani, Gale
Kobayashi, and Darryl Tagami presented an Ikenobo sunamono
arrangement representing the mountains and pines of
the scenery. Grace Sekimitsu created an Ohara
school landcape arrangement picking up on the pines,
rice, and rays of the sun. Carole Murakami of
the Sogetsu school recreated the kite using washi
paper, cord, and red and white flowers.
Additional exhibitors were given the option of
interpreting a piece of art or dogs to celebrate the
year of the dog while each centerpiece was
accompanied by a small ceramic dog figurine.
