Ikebana is the Japanese art of arranging flowers.

It is more than 500 years old.

It still attracts traditionalists and newcomers.

They find it creative and calming.

Hiroyuki Okada is 40 years old.

He began lessons about seven years ago.

Now he teaches Ikenobo, the oldest of three major ikebana schools.

He said that in arranging flowers, you deal with the life that is there.

You also come face to face with yourself.

He thinks he is like many people drawn to ikebana today.

They seek joy, purpose, or comfort from modern life.

The Ikenobo school is based in Kyoto and comes from Buddhism.

It now has groups worldwide.

Senko Ikenobo is the headmaster-designate.

She said ikebana is about the relationship of the creator with the flowers.

She said she has seen it help women who juggle work and motherhood.

It also helps those caring for aging parents.

Mayu Shimizu has taken lessons from Okada for about three years.

She said ikebana heals like yoga, meditation, or play.

She said her mind feels clearer and she feels more at peace.

One traditional arrangement, shoka shofutai, uses three main elements: shin, soe, and tai.

Freer styles look more like casual Western bouquets.

They may feel easier for beginners.