Mochitsuki Festival – Ikebana arrangements representing our schools were on display throughout the exhibit rooms and performance halls at the Mochitsuki Festival, Portland’s annual Japanese New Year celebration. The festival, which shares Japanese and Japanese American culture with the Portland community, included music, martial arts and taiko demonstrations, along with activities for children, on January 29 at Portland State University’s Smith Memorial Student Union.

Arrangements by:  Heida Bruce, Ikenobo; Leslie Dolin and Nana Bellerud, Sogetsu; Cindy Hepworth, Carolyn Alter and Diane Yost, Ohara; Michiko Kornhauser, Saga Goryu.

Emperor’s Birthday – Despite the threat of ice, sleet, and snow, Nana Bellerud provided an arrangement for this event, hosted by Portland’s Consular Office of Japan.  Many of those invited, including board members, were not as brave to make it to the Hilton Downtown on December 8th.  For her efforts on behalf of the Chapter, Nana has a photo of herself with our Governor, Kate Brown.

Ikebana Lecture & Demonstration & Hands-on Workshop – The Consular Office of Japan in Portland held a special event for the audience after the film screening of “Nagasaki: Memories of My Son” on Sunday, February 12 as part of the Portland International Film Festival. The event featured “Kimono Try-on” by the Portland Kimono Club and “Ikebana Lecture and Demonstration” by Nana Bellerud, IIPDX47.