Kika Shibata
Four year old Kimi began learning the art of Ikebana in Japan, from her mother, a master in Japanese flower arranging. She moved to the United States as a teenager but continued her studies both in the United States under her mother, Shoka Narimatsu, and in Japan under Kasumi Teshigahara, the future Sogetsu Iemoto.
Kimi received her teacher's certificate and flower name Kika in 1967. By March 1989, she earned the title Riji, the highest degree offered by the Sogetsu School of Ikebana. In 1990, she was assigned as Deputy Director of the Sogetsu San Jose-South Bay Branch by Headmaster Hiroshi Teshigahara. In 1996 she became the Regional Director of North America. In 2003, she become Director of the Sogetsu San Jose-South Bay Branch.
Kika’s involvement and dedication to the art of Ikebana have continued on a personal, local and international level. Kika currently serves as Vice President of the Ikebana Shoka-Kai Society and is an active member of Ikebana International.
Kika is continually invited by various organizations, schools and professional floral markets from all over the United States and Japan, to conduct Ikebana demonstrations and workshops.
A master teacher in Ikebana for 40 years, Kika’s many classes include teaching classes for adults and children. As a valued member of the San Jose community, her talent and never-ending enthusiasm for Ikebana can only be measured by the joy she gives, sharing her talents with others, most of all, her students.
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