How is that different from American flower arrangements?
I cannot give one single definition of Japanese ikebana. But there are a lot of meaning of “space” in ikebana. For example, the space between a flower and a branch may have a certain meaning. But the most important point in ikebana is to keep in mind the season. In Japan, the most popular flowers are seasonal or what is just coming into bloom. Just like fruits and vegetables, the flowers have a certain popularity depending on what is coming into season. For example, if it’s going to be springtime soon and if you show a cherry blossom, the person will think, “spring is coming, which means that cherry blossoms will bloom soon” and feel really happy. Americans seem to order flowers regardless of what’s in season and tend to order for the occasion. For example, they ask for “cheerful colored” flowers if someone is in the hospital or try to give a romantic impression when buying flowers for a date. Americans seem to like long-lasting flower arrangements that have a big impact with vivid col
