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Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer

The Arranger: Fusako Hoyrup has taught Ikebana, the Japanese art of floral arranging, for decades in the Bay Area.

Teacher devotes her life to Japanese floral art

By Erin Hussey

Fusako Seiga Hoyrup has devoted more than half her life to the study and teaching of Ikebana, the Japanese art of floral arranging.

But when asked her age, she says with a grin, "I'm 39."

"One day I said, 'I don't want to get old,'" says Hoyrup. "The English pronunciations of the Japanese numbers three and nine are 'san' and 'kyuu,' or 'thank you,' so that's why I decided to stay 39."

Hoyrup first discovered the Wafu style of Ikebana in 1957 at a Tokyo department store.

"It was heartwarming and naturalistic and respected the beauty of nature," Hoyrup remembers. "I fell in love with it right away."

She signed up to receive personal instruction at the Wafu School of Ikebana in Japan that same year.

Unlike the more traditional styles of Ikebana, Wafu emphasizes the natural beauty of plant materials as well as the harmony between the flowers, vase and environment in which the arrangement is placed.

Hoyrup began teaching within months of arriving in Cupertino in 1969 with her husband, Johannes. She has continued to teach over the last 38 years and is considered by many to be the guru of Wafu Ikebana in the Bay Area.

"Watching the students' enjoyment and excitement is very rewarding to me--it gives me life," says Hoyrup.

Pat Hunsperger is one of the many students who continually take Hoyrup's Wafu classes through the Sunnyvale-Cupertino Adult and Community Education program, which is run by the Fremont Union High School District.

"You would think that, after many years, the combinations would repeat, but it's very rare that they do," says Hunsperger, who is in her 17th year of Wafu.

The combined Ikebana experience of the students in Hoyrup's Tuesday morning advanced class, held at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Sunnyvale, is more than 300 years.

"It amazes me how she can have so many classes with so many different combinations that are always fresh and always fascinating," Hunsperger says.

During the April 9 class, Hunsperger and 13 classmates spent two hours creating a dual arrangement with roses, ferns and cotoneaster.

"Sometimes she will bring the materials in and you think, 'she's going to put that with that?' Like these branches," says Hunsperger referring to the dark green cotoneaster shrub.

"They grow wild in my yard. I cut them down and put them in the trash. But she says, 'No, no, this is wonderful.' "

In contrast to Western-style floral arrangements that depend on mass and color, Ikebana arrangements can be seen as re-creations of nature. The collective framework of branches, greenery and space is used to emphasize the unique beauty of the chosen floral material.

"Flowers grow toward the sun," explains Hoyrup. "If you tilt them towardyou, it's like you are the sunshine energizing them and in return they energize you."

According to Hoyrup, teaching Ikebana is more than just showing students how to arrange beautiful flowers; it's about bridging cultures, promoting warm relationships and developing a deeper understanding between individuals.

"From buds, to being just a little open, to being completely opened, to dying, we have to take care of the flowers," she says. "Changing their water, re-cutting the stems--by doing so we learn how to live. We have to take care of each other as human beings."

Hoyrup believes the deep respect and strong friendship between her and her students and between the students themselves is why so many come back year after year.

"We have wonderful relationships between our members. It's amazing," she says.

Even with more than 50 years experience in Ikebana. Hoyrup isn't ready for retirement. "It's the beauty and the mystery of nature that keeps me going."

In addition to traveling to places such as Denmark, India, South Africa and Brazil, Hoyrup flies to Japan to continue her personal Wafu education and growth.

"I think I'll be doing this for a lifetime because it gives me life. I take the energy from nature and use it to teach my students who energize me. It's a wonderful cycle."

For more information on Fusako Hoyrup's Wafu Ikebana classes or upcoming events, call 408.252.6833 or visit www.wafu-ikebana.org.