2026 Meeting with Ikebana Teachers Federation and Ikebana International

On Friday, August 21, Consul General Kotaro Otsuki held a luncheon meeting at his residence in honor of the leadership of the Ikebana Teachers Federation (ITF) and Ikebana International SF Bay Area Chapter (IISF). In his remarks, Consul General Otsuki expressed his gratitude to the officers of both organizations for their continuing efforts to promote Japanese culture through the art of Ikebana. Remarks were also given by ITF President Setsuko Iwami and a toast by IISF President Nora Dowley. The event welcomed representatives of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco and Hakone Gardens in Saratoga as special guests with whom other guests connected and engaged with along the lines of promoting Japanese traditional culture.