Beşiktaş Residents Discover the Art of Ikebana

Beşiktaş Municipality brought together residents aged 65 and over living in the district with ikebana, the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement. Organised in cooperation with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Shaka Kachi, the event offered participants a hands-on introduction to the art of ikebana.

Held at Prof. Dr. Aykut Barka Earthquake Park, the event allowed participants to create aesthetic floral arrangements using flowers, branches and pots. Alongside the practical workshop, participants also learned about the philosophy of ikebana, its deep connection with nature and its artistic approach.

Ikebana instructor Neslihan Noyan, who has been working to promote the art form in Türkiye, shared the following remarks: “Known as the art of arranging living flowers, ikebana literally means ‘giving life’ in Japanese. At its core, it is the transformation of respect for nature into art. It is an ancient and deeply rooted traditional Japanese practice. I have been working to raise awareness of ikebana in Türkiye. In a world surrounded by technology, I believe it is essential to reconnect with nature. In this context, I am also involved in initiatives to establish Zen gardens.”

Speaking on behalf of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Esra Aksoy highlighted the purpose of the event as follows: “One of our core visions is to encourage older adults to take a more active role in social life and to create together with them. In line with this vision, we carried out a joint initiative with Beşiktaş Municipality. Through ikebana, which reflects the Japanese art of integrating nature into daily life, we prepared small floral arrangements carrying wishes for the New Year. Participants created their own arrangements and wrote down their wishes for the year ahead. We hope the New Year brings beauty and positivity for everyone.”