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It is with great pleasure that I write this foreword to Anita’s book of Sogetsu Ikebana. It was a privilege
for me to work with such a dedicated and talented pupil. During our years together, we spent many
happy hours engrossed in this beautiful art form and mutually gained from each other. I am confident
that readers of this book will enjoy browsing these pages. My heartfelt congratulations to you, Anita!
I began studying Ikebana in the Sogetsu School in 1970. Lorraine Napier, an excellent teacher and
a devoted follower of the Sogetsu discipline, introduced me to the art, and I was soon awarded the First
Teacher’s Certificate. Following Lorraine’s retirement, study opportunities arose at workshops held by
Mr Suzuki, Norman Sparnon, Vivienne Pascoe and Yvonne Panton-Jones. In 1990 I visited the Sogetsu
School in Tokyo and was awarded the Komon Degree. During Mr Suzuki’s last visit to South Africa he
promoted me to the degree of Master Riji.
From 1981 to 2005 I ran a school of Sogetsu with enthusiastic, talented and loyal people. It is a
truism that ‘once you are a teacher, by your pupils you are taught’. It is thanks to this, together with
the valuable teaching from the above-mentioned masters, that I was able to go on and be appointed
as an honorary life member of the Sogetsu School in 1996 and receive the Sogetsu 80th anniversary
commemorative honour award.
Betty Mussell
Ka Sen—Flower Fan
FOREWORDS
My passion and appreciation for flowers led me to want to understand what Ikebana was and how
it was different from everything I had done and seen before. The idea of learning about Japanese
Congratulations, Anita, on your achievements in Ikebana. It is a source of pride for a teacher flower arranging captured my imagination. I then met Mary Marques and began my first classes
to see a student excel and have such passion for a subject like Ikebana, too. In over thirty years in August 1987. The exciting journey, meeting new people, making new friends and learning new
of teaching Ikebana there are only a handful of students who become passionate about it and it techniques and traditions was hugely inspiring. As a group, we studied the Sogetsu School teachings
becomes a part of one’s life. Ikebana is a great study for the mind and even a therapy to calm one and techniques, which is the more modern version of Ikebana. During this time with Mary, I
in the stresses of day-to-day living in the 21st century! I always say it is impossible to be creative achieved two teaching certficates, third and fourth. In 1988 I was nominated to be president of
in Ikebana unless your mind is at peace. Ikebana International, a role I thoroughly enjoyed and held for two years.
I was fortunate to study under three great Ikebana teachers, two of whom studied with Mr It was during this time I began teaching Ikebana from my garage to anyone who was interested.
Sofu Teshigahara in Tokyo, the founder of the Sogetsu School. They were Baroness Rukavena This was when I met Anita and introduced her to Ikebana classes. These were held in the garage,
and Mrs Vivienne Pascoe. My third teacher, Mrs June Hyman, studied Sogetsu Ikebana in and were great fun. Watching my students grow and develop their own creativity was very rewarding.
Australia under Mr Norman Sparnon who in turn had studied with Mr Sofu Teshigahara in Anita, your work always stood out, you were always so keen to learn more about Ikebana. You would
Tokyo soon after the end of the Second World War. persist on working on something till it was just right, a perfectionist! I am so proud to see how far
you have gone in Ikebana and delighted you are writing a book, this is a wonderful achievement.
I eagerly follow your path in the fascinating world of Sogetsu Ikebana!
Yours in Ikebana.
Mary Marques Cho Sei Riji teacher
Sogetsu School of Ikebana Lyn Pozzo
Ho Tei’
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