INTRODUCTION 



years of study on each school, to a very small 

 number of schools, but, should I attempt 

 to settle upon one only I would defeat my 

 purpose and pleasure of bringing to the people 

 of my own land the best and most helpful 

 suggestions in this Japanese Flower Art. 



AH the schools can be divided under two 

 h&ds: those producing wonderful Decorative 

 effects, and those which ^exhibit natural taste. 



The two schools which follow nature most 

 closely are Ikenobu and Ko-Sbin-Ryu. It 

 is to these two schools I owe my greatest 

 inspiration. Both of these schools look upon 

 nature as the most helpful guide in forming 

 their rules and producing their most pleas- 

 ing results. Ikenobu has enjoyed, and I 

 feel deservingly, unbroken popularity from 

 700 A.D. to the present time. 



Whereas Koshin Ryu has lost in favor, 

 there being only one Master of that school 

 now in Kyoto, while there are forty teachers 

 in the Ikenobu school. Although this Koshin 

 Ryu Master is remarkably skilful, he has few 

 followers, Ikenobu being the most flourishing 

 school of the present day in both Tokio and 



[9] 



