Blog

It has been quite a while since the wonderful ikebana seminar took place in Wiesbaden-Naurod, which Professor Noda honored us by attending.

The Seven Grasses of Autumn (秋の七草) are a recurring motif in classical Japanese poetry. They are often found in the verses of the Manyoshu, the oldest collection of Japanese songs and poems.

It is a feeling - of growth, of space, of light. Green grain, wide skies and golden sunsets tell of life unfolding. They remind us how beautiful it is to be in the moment - before everything ripens, before the pace picks up. Now is the time to take a deep breath. To observe. To marvel. Summer has only just begun.

Every year in July (or August in some places), Japan lights up in bright colours as the country celebrates the romantic Tanabata star festival. This traditional festival combines Japanese culture, poetry and a moving love story - and at the same time brings a touch of magic into everyday life.

The dove is regarded worldwide as a symbol of peace - but it is not just white and fleeting. Since ancient times, it has carried messages through wars, and after the Second World War, Pablo Picasso's “La Colombe” made it a universal symbol of a humanity longing for reconciliation.