Nobuko Usui, 13th World Convention Chairperson

Thank you message from the 13th World Convention Chair. Nobuko Usui

It is with great pleasure that I send the Ikebana International worldwide membership the exciting news that the Ikebana International 13th World Convention 2025 ended successfully as a result of the great support we received from many members.
My deep gratitude goes to all those who were patient in the face of the hardships caused by the COVID19. I am deeply appreciative that we were able to hold the convention this year after an eight-year period with no I.I. World Convention.
Despite the hardest ordeals before the convention, over a thousand members and friends from 88 chapters in 37 countries and areas showed their enthusiastic support for Ikebana International by registering for the Convention.
After four memorable days ended with everyone’s hope to meet again in five years.
I wish you all the very best in health and happiness and good luck.
We shall pursue dreams and endeavors through network of ikebana all over the world.
The World Convention was a truly wonderful opportunity to contribute to a peaceful feeling through ikebana. Our motto, “Friendship through Flowers”, and the theme of this convention, “Succeed and Continue”, were surely fulfilled with many big smiles. The final results were most satisfying.
I am deeply grateful to our Honorary President, H.I.H. Princess Takamado for taking time from her busy schedule to honor us with her presence at the Convention on all four days. Princess Akiko of Mikasa and Princess Tsuguko of Takamado also honored us with their presence at the Convention.
Many thanks to all of you, your dedication, your commitments and your hard work are what make up our history and our future.
I am relieved that everything went smoothly and as scheduled. I was very fortunate in having many able hands on the Convention Committee. The hard-working committee members gave me their friendship, emotional support, and encouragement when I needed it most.
I want to sure to mention the cooperation of the mass media, including digital magazines, various TV and radio stations, and newspapers. By promoting the Convention, they contributed very much to its success, especially the Ikebana Exhibition. Over a thousand people attended the Ikebana Exhibition on each of the two days that it was open to the public.
At the Convention, the ikebana demonstrations by the ikebana schools were creative, amazing, and superbly run. Also, the ikebana schools helped us very much by selling Exhibition and demonstration tickets to their students. As a result, we had many more visitors than we had initially expected. The income from those ticket sales will certainly help I.I.’s financial condition.
In closing, I would like to thank everyone who directly or indirectly supported the Ikebana International 13th World Convention, including the Kyoto prefectural government.
No matter how many times I say thank you, it will never be enough. The world feels much closer now!
I am saying goodbye, this will not be the last I see of you.
I’m looking forward to seeing many members again five years from now at the 14th World Convention.
I thank the many wonderful people I have been fortunate enough to spend a lot of time with.
Wherever we are, our hope is that the Ikebana International will continue to peace in the world through ikebana. SAYONARA with love.