Kado｜Gigei Seizui Esprit of Aichi Performing Arts

We present the soulful sounds of tradition and innovation in a non-audience performance of "Gigei Seizui Esprit of Aichi Performing Arts" held at the mini theater (black box theater) of the Aichi Prefectural Art Theater.
Performances in two forms – "classical" and "challenge for the new era" – are featured in a 30-minute video, touching on the history, the production process, and reflections on the performances.
You can also view the two performances in their entirety.

Gigei Seizui Esprit of Aichi Performing Arts "Kado"

Classic Flower Arrangement
featuring Aichi’s Kagariben-giku

Kagariben-giku, a new species of chrysanthemum with beautiful fissured petals grown in Aichi, the top producer of flowers in Japan, is used in the Ishida School classical flower arrangement.

Flower Performance
using Aichi’s Kagariben-giku Set to Beautiful Music

A large object is made with Kagariben-giku in a Kado (classical flower arrangement) performance set to video projections and a live accordion and violin performance.

About the Ishida Ikebana Association

Founded in Nagoya in 1922, Ishida School Kado (traditional flower arrangement) is characterized by the elegant expressions and speed in which the flowers and trees are arranged.
Shusui Ishida, the current chairman of the school, has enthusiastically conducted creative research for many years, spreading the study of ikebana and exhibiting flower arrangements in Japan and overseas. His masterpiece focusing on environmental issues presented at the EXPO 2005 Aichi and 2010 COP 10 was well received. He received the FY 2013 Aichi Prefectural Art and Culture Encouragement Prize Culture Award.

Mika Ishida
4th Iemoto (Headmistress) of Ishida Ikebana Association

Mika Ishida, the 4th Iemoto (Headmistress), started studying the art of flower arrangement as a child from her grandmother, Sensui Ishida, and father, Shusui Ishida, and is currently the instructor at the head office of the school as well as at various universities. She produces a wide range of work from classical to contemporary art and enthusiastically works on collaborations and performances with calligraphy, music, dance, and other fields.

Ishida Ikebana Association Website

Performers of the Classic Flower Arrangement featuring Aichi’s Kagariben-giku

Ishida School 4th Iemoto (Headmistress): Mika Ishida; Kyosui Kobayashi; Rei Hayase; Aichi Flower Growers Association Chrysanthemum Subcommittee
Kagariben-giku producer: Sanjiro Makihara

Performers of the Flower Performance using Aichi’s Kagariben-giku Set to Beautiful Music

Ishida School 4th Iemoto (Headmistress): Mika Ishida
Accordion: Angelo Aquilini
Violin: Salvatore Piediscalzi; Aichi Flower Growers Association Chrysanthemum Subcommittee
Kagariben-giku producer: Sanjiro Makihara

Narrator: Kirk Nishikawa