San Francisco Bay Area Chapter #31 

Kayoko Suiyo Fujimoto (Ohara) began studying ikebana in High school and received her instructor’s certificate for Ohara Ikebana in 1952. She currently holds the Grand Master certificate. She has distinguished herself not only in her local ikebana activities but has been recognized by the Emperor of Japan in 2010 with the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun, Golden and Silver Rays for her outstanding service to ikebana and promoting the traditional culture of Japan. Fujimoto Sensei had the rarified lifetime membership awarded to her by the Ohara School and received the Bunka Hall of Fame induction for her contributions to Japanese ikebana and enhancing community relations. She is a charter member and founder of Ohara Ikebana School of Northern California Chapter (where she currently serves as Advisor after serving as President for 30 years) and charter member of ITF. She has been a long-time active member of I.I. Fujimoto Sensei continues to actively teach, demonstrate and exhibit.

Fusako Seiga Hoyrup (Wafu) is the founder and President of the California Chapter of the Wafu School of Ikebana, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020. She began her study of ikebana over 60 years ago in Japan under the 2nd Headmaster. She holds the Shukan Degree, the highest achievement level in the Wafu school. Hoyrup Sensei has received numerous awards and commendations throughout the years. To cite just a few of these awards, she was inducted into the Bunka Hall of Fame in 2010 for her excellence and contribution to ikebana. In 2015, the Consul General of Japan San Francisco awarded her an official commendation for her work promoting cultural relations and friendship between Japan and California. In 2019, Hoyrup Sensei received the most prestigious Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays award which was conferred upon her by the government and Emperor of Japan for her contributions to the promotion of Japanese culture in the USA and abroad. Hoyrup Sensei has taught, demonstrated and exhibited throughout the world and is still active today.

Sumi Metz (Aratame) has studied and taught ikebana for more than 45 years. Her work is firmly based on a deep understanding of Ikebana traditions while exceeding those boundaries to interpret ikebana in purely contemporary works which reflect and complement modern life. Sumi’s ikebana has a joyful personality which always speaks to the viewer. Her creations reflect her imaginative and expert use of contemporary floral and man-made materials in complex designs. Sumi was born and raised Nagasaki-ken, Japan were she developed her lifelong love of flowers which was further refined in Ikebana cultural education classes. She moved to California in 1965 and joined the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of Ikebana International in 1980. Sumi began formal ikebana studies in the Wafu School and remained in that school for nearly three decades. She earned the Wafu Gakukan, Senior Professor degree in 2000. In 2000, Iemoto Seigyo Aratame, Headmaster of Aratame Ryu, invited her to join his school established in 1993. Aratame is one of the newest schools of Ikebana. Aratame reflects its contemporary styles with great freedom of expression by its students who use synthetic materials and modern presentation formats. Sumi accepted this invitation. The Headmaster of Aratame recognized her extraordinary talent as well as her business acumen, appointed her as a Professor of his school, and named her President of Aratame USA. Representing Aratame School, Sumi has demonstrated at numerous Ikebana Chapters in the U.S. and abroad.

Joan Yusui Suzuki (Sogetsu) was born in San Francisco and visited Japan at age five with her parents. While in Japan, she began her studies in Sogetsu Ikebana as teenager and received her first teaching certificate at the age of 16. Upon her return to the US in 1949, she continued her college studies. After the graduation she began teaching Ikebana classes and while assisting her mother, Shunei Uchida, in her classes. It was Mrs. Uchida who introduced Sogetsu Ikebana to the San Francisco Bay Area In 1973, Joan was awarded the rank of Riji, the highest rank in the Sogetsu School, by Sogetsu Headmaster Sofu Teshigahara. Joan joined I.I. HQ/TYO as a “member at large” prior to the founding of our SF Bay Area Chapter. Joan is a charter member of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of Ikebana International and currently serves as the Sogetsu Advisor to the Chapter. She is a founding member of the San Francisco Bay Area Branch of the Sogetsu School and has served as Director and is currently the Director Emeritus. She is a charter member and past President of the Ikebana Teachers Federation. She has demonstration and exhibited widely for many organizations, including the I.I. flower shows, the annual Cherry Blossom Festival and numerous Sogetsu events in and out of California. Mrs. Suzuki has been received many awards for Ikebana and cultural activities throughout her career. Such as the Certificate of Commendation for promoting relations between US and Japan through Ikebana from Consul General Yamada, induction into the Bunka Hall of Fame from the JAANC and the Overseas Honor Award at the 90th Sogetsu Commemorative Ceremony by Sogetsu Headmaster Akane Teshigahara. The most recently she was awarded by Foreign Minister’s Award by Japan in 2019 and ceremony was held at the residence of Consul General of Japan, SF, Tomochika Uyama.

Sandra Hatcher (Ikenobo) began her study of Ikenobo in 1994 after moving to Sacramento. She was the first recipient of the Ikenobo Ikebana Northern California Scholarship which was established in 2006 for independent advanced study at Ikenobo headquarters in Kyoto. In 2018 she was accepted to study at the Ikenobo Chuo Kenshu Gakuin in Kyoto. She is currently attending classes as a member of the first English speaking class designed to advance the study of Ikenobo. She has participated in the Ikenobo Study Tour in Kyoto, Japan eight times. She is a Senior Professor of Ikenobo (Fukusokatoku). Currently she serves as 2nd Vice President of the Ikenobo Ikebana Northern California Chapter, is corresponding secretary and newsletter chair for Ikebana International San Francisco and is a member of the Ikebana Teachers Federation. Her passion is “education” with the goal to promote ikebana and advance her knowledge. She teaches in Sacramento and Reno.