'The Star is the Student': 30 Years of a Designer Spreading Happiness with Flowers

I am a flower designer. I have been running a flower arrangement class for 30 years. In the class, I teach students, and we have several certified instructors, so I also train certified instructors. Additionally, I teach at vocational schools, instruct for national qualifications, serve as a judge for the Flower Designer Exam, and conduct courses for VIP clients of public institutions and companies.

Yes, the national qualification is an exam for those with over 10 years of experience in floristry. It is held once a year in each prefecture. For the practical exam, you have to complete about 100 arrangements in 30 minutes. If even one arrangement is out of the specified frame, you fail. Therefore, not many people pass. There is a practical exam and a written exam.

After graduating and getting a job, I worked as a secretary for a large company while taking flower classes as a hobby. The teacher there asked me, 'Won't you succeed me?' However, it was a bit too much for me, so I declined. But from then on, the idea of 'starting my own class' took root in me, and a few years later, I started my own class. I think that invitation was the trigger.

While working as an office lady, it was right after the bubble economy, a time when people bought sports club tickets worth millions of yen. My friends and I bought some, but after purchasing, I realized I didn't like sports. Looking for something to use those tickets for, flowers were my favorite, so I started attending flower classes.

I was told, 'Succeed me,' but I declined and started on my own. When I asked the teacher how to run it, there was no clear answer, just 'Do it yourself.' So, I researched and did it myself. When I first started, 100 people joined, and I had trouble with procurement for 100 people. I started in Shinagawa, and a nearby instructor taught me procurement methods. I met a very kind person and was initially allowed into a flower shop.

There are in-person classes, but due to the pandemic, we also started online and correspondence courses. Online classes are in real-time, but they also allow those who can't travel long distances to participate. For children, caregivers, and overseas participants, we provide videos. However, to prevent it from being just a one-time viewing, we have a three-style lesson where participants send their completed works via SNS for review.

When visiting external venues, sometimes the flowers weren't arranged by the staff, even though they were supposed to. In a 3-hour seminar with 50 to 100 participants, I couldn't say 'There are no flowers,' so I had to talk for 2 to 3 hours without any preparation. Also, to help instructors level up, we hold monthly instructor meetings, focusing on both technique and class management. However, since everyone has different areas of difficulty, it's challenging to level up everyone at the same pace, requiring individualized feedback and tailored curriculums.

I tell new instructors not to focus the attention on themselves. The students are the main characters; the instructor's role is to support their enjoyment. Of course, I share flower techniques based on my long career, but the main focus should be on the students, not the instructor.

Seeing everyone happy is the joy of my work, and their happy faces are like getting paid. The happiest moments are when participants, even those who initially didn't want to come, say they had a great time and will return. Also, when I design wedding decorations and the couple loves my design sketch and includes it in their wedding ceremony, that's very rewarding.

I have wonderful students who say, 'We want to see the teacher' and 'We look forward to coming here.' It has become a community of enjoyment for everyone, which I am proud of.

I work with fresh flowers, artificial flowers, preserved flowers, and pressed flowers. Each type of flower has its own personality, and the fun is in bundling them together to create a harmonious and beautiful arrangement. Just as certain flowers like baby's breath can be the main character in an arrangement, people can also take different roles in different situations. Through flower arranging, I teach students how to balance and harmonize, which can also improve their interpersonal relationships.

It's challenging because everyone's growth stages are different. For flower techniques, one must first understand the theory, practice, internalize what they've learned, and then master it. Some instructors may focus too much on themselves rather than their students, making it difficult to guide them effectively.

I started in my 20s, working a lot and sleeping only 2 to 3 hours a night, which was enjoyable. However, when my child was born, I shifted my focus to parenting. While others could do my flower work, only I could be my child's mother. I told publishers I would focus on parenting until my child entered elementary school. During that time, I even held meetings while holding my child.

The flower industry, in general, faces challenges like an aging workforce and consumer base. To sustain flower consumption, we need to consider the overall market and attract younger people. I've started publishing e-books to reach a younger audience, as traditional books may not appeal to them as much.

At one point, I considered making my work so automated that I could step away. However, I realized that complete detachment isn't possible. Ideally, I'd like a balance of 70% private life and 30% work. My private life includes not just my main flower work but also traveling and using SNS to create additional income streams. So, within that 70% private life, I'd like to include some work.

I believe everyone has a tool to make others happy, and for me, that tool is flowers. Flowers are the best way for me to bring happiness to others, so I want to continue using them.

I want to explore different approaches while maintaining my current flower-based work. Ideally, I'd like a 50-50 balance between new approaches and my existing flower work, along with a healthy and enjoyable private life. I'd like to do more speaking engagements, broaden my perspective, and deliver happiness to a wider audience.

For those wanting to enter the flower industry, there are various paths, whether it's growing flowers, selling them, or running classes like mine. It's important to clarify what you want to do most and then study and progress in that direction.