Enchanting Ikebana: Step-by-Step Japanese Flower Arrangements [Hardcover]

Reiko Takenaka (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 1996

A practical guide to creating beautiful floral arrangements. With rich color photos and illustrations, this book introduces floral decorations for use in a variety of locations and styles.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

REIKO TAKENAKA has given many demonstrations, and has designed and arranged many displays for numerous events, including demonstrations before state guests. Now she plays an active part in domestic and international scenes of cultural exchange as an ikebana artist, in such cities as New York, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Geneva, Singapore and Malaysia.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 122 pages
• Publisher: Joie (September 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0870409840
• ISBN-13: 978-0870409844
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,074,079 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Highly Instructive, March 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Enchanting Ikebana: Step-by-Step Japanese Flower Arrangements (Hardcover)

If you love to learn flower arrangement but are frustrated by pretty books that don't show you HOW to make an arrangement, this is the book for you! There are detailed step-by-step instructions for each arrangement. As one of the reviewer had mentioned, the only shortcoming for this book is that some plant material may not be available in the US. Still, I don't see this as too much of an issue as it is not too difficult to substitute native plants with similar look and color. I highly recommend this to ikebana neophytes.

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A most inspiring book on the essence of form and beauty., August 19, 1998

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Enchanting Ikebana: Step-by-Step Japanese Flower Arrangements (Hardcover)

Ms. Takenaka is a remarkable artist. Her ability to combine shape and texture of natural (and man-made) materials to reveal the simple elegance of Japanese style is inspiring. Each of the 60 or so examples have reasonable instructions. I gave it only 4 stars because some of the plant materials are not readily available and alternatives are not suggested. Nevertheless this book will generate many ideas of your own.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Practical, February 3, 2009

By 

Bernadette Starling (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Enchanting Ikebana: Step-by-Step Japanese Flower Arrangements (Hardcover)

I bought this for Mother's day. My mother loves the book and was very pleased with the book.
I personally love the practical step by step instructions and find them very useful for a beginner who wants to create precise ikebana. My mother in contrast is more interested in using the book as sort inspiration and never uses the step-by-step instructions. I deducted one star for Reiko Tanaka's dull choice in flowers. I would expect something interesting and striking in flowers and she failed to deliver.