Yes, a Japanese Greeting to welcome you to this blog, as I was immersed in Japanese Culture all day today and it was very special. I started off in the Bonsai House to look at bonsais and how they are planted, looked after and maintained.

I took in Ikebana and several demos. Three different schools operate in Queensland and it takes years to attain the highest levels. Ikenobo, Sogetsu, and Ohara. Sogetsu Ikebana will be celebrating 60 years in Queensland on August 26th and 27th at the Mount Coot ha Auditorium. More demos and fun on that weekend.

Check out http://www.ikebanabrisbane.org Here are some of my favourites from today.

There are many rules and regulations about how it is done but there is beauty everywhere once undertaken. Both Ikebana and tea ceremonies date back to the 15th Century.

A tea ceremony for the uninitiated, and today it is green matcha tea which I have to say is not my favourite. They offered what looked like a sugar lump to suck on before the tea came around, to take away the bitterness of the tea but the ceremony was magical and done with care and formality to enhance purity, tranquility, respect and harmony.

For the kids, Kite Making and Kamishibai storytelling. Tom the shorebird’s story of his flight from Siberia to Japan and then onto Brisbane Boondall Wetlands – an epic journey for shorebirds.

Then onto Japanese Rice Cake making – the famous mochi. Steamed rice poured into the hollowed out wooden container and men took it in turns to bash it with mallets until it was a sticky mass which is then formed into little balls and dipped in a mixture of red bean, sugar and soy. A Japanese version of chewy gum if you want a vague approximation.

Best of all having my name on rice paper in Japanese – intricate and intractable letters all delicately produced on the paper with calligraphic swirls of dexterity and precision.

Yes, Japanese Marina saying sayonara for today and I leave you with my Ikebana effort (in situ).