ABOUT HARUKO

• Originally from Japan

• Graduated from Women’s Fine Art College in Tokyo

• BA in Interior Design from Woodbury University

Haruko Takeichi is an interior designer in the Southern California area. She has been practicing the art of Ikebana for over 35 years. In 1980, she began studying Sogetsu school Ikebana under Shunyo Okinaka. Takeichi received the first-degree grandmaster qualification for teaching Sogetsu style in 1989 and began teaching in Santa Ana, Irvine, Torrance and Los Angeles. She holds the highest rank of "Riji” of Teachers Association at Headquarter in 2007.

As a member of the Sogetsu Los Angeles Branch, she participated in the Living Flowers: Ikebana and Contemporary Art exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles. It  featured traditional Japanese flower arrangements by masters of the Ikenobo, Ohara and Sogetsu  schools of ikebana along with cutting-edge contemporary art by an international array of artists.

In 2007, she received the Special Award for Overseas Instructors from Sogetsu headquarters.

In 2015 she celebrated her 25th Anniversary of teaching at three locations: Hammer Museum, Neutra House in Silver Lake and the Japanese American Community Center. The latter’s “Light &

Shadow, Haruko's 25th Anniversary Exhibition”  featured limited lighting systems for a different and unique atmosphere

In April 2017 during Sogetsu Headquarter's 90th Anniversary celebration, she received the Special

Award for “Eiyo sho” for her long time dedication and contributions to Japanese Cultural Art here in  Southern California.