On March 10, 2016, the City of Portland hosted a farewell reception in the atrium of the City Hall for Consul General Hiroshi Furusawa.

Chapter 47’s farewell gift was an arrangement by Chapter President, Nana Bellerud, who used cherry blossoms to represent Japan and red roses for Portland, to appropriately embellish the space. Five Chapter Board Members attended representing the Schools of Ikebana.

Nana reflects that “… ikebana is one of the prominent types of the Japanese culture with over 100 people practicing in Portland and SW Washington.” By being included in this event, she feels that II is being recognized as a cultural group that welcomes outreach opportunities to promote public awareness in the Japanese art of flower arranging.

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