Ikebana is the Japanese art of arranging flowers.

It is more than 500 years old.

Today, many people still love it.

Some are traditional.

Some are new.

They find it creative and calming.

Hiroyuki Okada is 40 years old.

He started lessons about seven years ago.

Now he teaches Ikenobo.

Ikenobo is the oldest of three big ikebana schools.

He said when you arrange flowers, you work with life.

And you meet yourself.

He thinks he is like many people today.

They want joy, purpose, or comfort in modern life.

The Ikenobo school is in Kyoto.

It comes from Buddhism.

Now it has groups around the world.

Senko Ikenobo will be the next headmaster.

She said ikebana is about the relationship between the creator and the flowers.

She said she has seen it help women.

These women work and care for children.

Or they care for old 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.

She feels more at peace.

One traditional arrangement is shoka shofutai.

It uses three main parts: shin, soe, and tai.

Freer styles look more like casual Western bouquets.

They may feel easier for beginners.