Ikebana International Los Angeles Chapter will feature highly respected Sogetsu artist Kaz Yokou Kitajima at the 2025 New Year Luncheon event at Quiet Cannon Conference Center, 901 Via San Clemente, Montebello, CA 9064, on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025 from 10:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
At the event place, Ikebana International chapter members will display the New Year ikebana arrangement, and Kitajima Sensei will present the ikebana program.
This luncheon event will be open to non-members. Non-member luncheon fee is $95 per person. Registration and payment must be received by Dec. 21. For more information, send email to info@ikebanalosangeles.org
Kaz Youko Kitajima is Ikkyu Shihan Riji of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana. His dynamic arrangements use elements of bamboo, pine and wood materials as well as the most delicate flowers.
He began studying Sogetsu Ikebana under Seiyo Sato in Tokyo at the age of 18, Graduated from Meisei University of Engineering and received his first teaching diploma from Sogetsu at the age of 22.
He then entered the employ of Musashino Landscape Company, where he mastered the art of Japanese Landscape and subsequently received a degree for Landscape Design from the Japanese Government.
At the age of 26, he came to the United States and became a member of Ikebana International. He was director of Sogetsu Los Angeles Branch from 1991 to 1995, and of Nanka Ikebana Kyojukai teacher’s guild from 1997 to 1999.
In 2005, he received the Japan Agriculture Society Agricultural Achievement Award; in 2007, the Sogetsu Ikebana Overseas Award; and in 2019, the Sogetsu Ikebana Overseas Award.
At present, he is the proprietor of NK Nursery, a nursery for Japanese Gardens, specializing in Japanese pine, in the City of Industry.
He teaches ikebana at the San Gabriel Japanese Community Center and the Pasadena Japanese Community Center.
