Ikebana Workshop with Junko

As part of From Tokyo to Manchester—a weekend festival celebrating the vibrancy of contemporary Japanese culture—join us for a hands-on introduction to the poetic art of ikebana with Junko Popham, a Tokyo-born ikebana tutor who brings the elegance of Japanese flower arrangement to the modern city of Manchester.

Junko has over a decade of experience in the traditional art of ikebana, having studied under the 15th-generation grand masters of the historic Kuwahara Senkei school in Kyoto. Her distinctive approach was first inspired not in a formal classroom, but in the British countryside, where the textures and colours of her garden taught her to listen closely to the rhythms of nature.

Now based in Manchester, Junko has developed a style rooted in the belief that ikebana is a ‘copy of nature’. She calls her ikebana practice Junko’s Flower Dance Company—letting seasonal flowers, leaves, and stems dance and sing in the air.

In this workshop, Junko will introduce the foundations of classical ikebana with a modern sensibility shaped by her life in northern England. You’ll explore its history, core principles, and intuitive techniques while working with fresh, seasonal materials to create your own arrangement to take home.

More than simply arranging flowers, ikebana is a contemplative practice—an art of giving renewed life to plants by revealing their innate beauty through balance, space, and gesture.

Suitable for all ages, this session offers a meditative way to reconnect with the natural world.

Tickets: £25 per person, including all materials and flowers.Concessions: £21.25 (15% discount for students, over-50s, and group bookings of three or more).

Make sure to book in advance, as spaces are limited.

About esea contemporary

esea contemporary is the UK’s only non-profit art centre specialising in presenting and platforming artists and art practices that identify with and are informed by East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) cultural backgrounds.

esea contemporary is situated in an award-winning building in the heart of Manchester, home to one of the largest East Asian populations in the UK. Since its inauguration as a community-oriented visual arts festival in 1986, esea contemporary – previously named Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art – has continuously evolved to establish itself as a dynamic and engaging space for cross-cultural exchanges in the British art scene, as well as in a global context.

esea contemporary aims to increase the visibility of contemporary art practices from the East and Southeast Asian communities and their diasporas. It is a site for forward-thinking art programmes that beyond exhibitions also include commissions, research, residencies, publishing, and a wide range of vibrant public events. esea contemporary values creativity, compassion, interconnectedness, and collectivity in implementing its mission.

Photo by Joe Smith.