Ikebana and us

August 22nd, 2015 It is Madras Day here in Chennai as our city celebrates its founding. Our Chairperson, Malathi Sensei   requested members to honour this meeting as part of the celebrations. She reminisced how Madras was during 1968 to '73 and how it was between 1976 till today. Young girls were in ' half sarees' and salwar kameez was not in fashion! Madras  and  a single  5 Star hotel called Connemara, and there were no florist shops other than garland sellers. In such a situation she started ikebana lessons,where cut flowers were available only at 'Rosedale' situated in Connemara and an outlet in Dhun Buildings. Only few  varieties of flowers were available then -  Gladiolus, Arum lily, Rose, Asters and Tube rose in season.  To keep the interest alive among the students was the greatest challenge, with these same materials on and on, and handling ' Lines ' as per the curriculum. Today the city boasts of florist shops in every neighbourhoo

As part of the year long activities ABK – AOTS DOSOKAI, Tamilnadu Center organizing the Exhibition & Demonstration of Ikebana (Japanese Flower Arrangement) by Ms. Yukari Yumire on 29 th  & 30 August 2015 at ABK – AOTS DOSOKAI, Tamilnadu Centre 3 rd  Floor Chateau D Ampa, # 37 (110) Nelson Manickam Road, Aminjikarai, Ch – 29 Tel. 91-44-2374 3575 / 2374 0318. The exhibition is open to public on 29 & 30 August 2015 between  10 .00  a m and  07 .00pm Demonstration at 11.00am on 29 th  August 2015 at the above venue. The participants are first come first serve basic. Kindly register your names before 27 th  August 2015.

Malathi sensei selected by the Consul-General of Japan in Chennai for a "Certificate of Commendation" in recognition of her distinguished service in contributing to the deepening of mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and India. The presentation ceremony of the "Certificate of Commendation" was hosted by the Consul-General, Mr Seiji Baba on Thursday 6th August 2015 at 12:00 noon at their residence  at Chennai.  Consul General reads out the citation. The presentation ceremony The commendations - in English and Japanese. Mr and Mrs Baba with the three awardees. Besides Malathi sensei , the other two awardees were from the ABK AOTS chapters in Kochi and Hyderabad. Consul General urged the awardees to carry on the good work.  Malathi sensei remembered her teachers Uma Rao and Veena Dass on the occasion and thanked the Consulate and the Consul General for the award and their generous words of appreciation.