Begin Your Journey

Reconnect with nature, creativity, and community. Join us and take the first step toward becoming an Ikebana Therapy Guide.

Course Overview

Step into the transformative world of Ikebana and wellbeing. While the Japan Ikebana Therapy Association offers a comprehensive two-year certification program, this exclusive three-day intensive course is your gateway into the practice of Ikebana therapy.

Designed as an inspiring introduction, this course empowers you to bring the beauty and mindfulness of Ikebana into therapeutic and community settings.

What You Will Experience

Over three enriching days, you will:

• Learn the step-by-step process of Ikebana therapy

• Explore the theoretical foundations behind its healing effects

• Discover Ikebana Kaidō — where the spiritual philosophy of flower arranging meets social wellbeing

• Gain practical insights into creating community-based healing events using flowers

• Be inspired by real-world case studies and applications

Your Path Forward

Upon completion, you will receive a certificate qualifying you as an Ikebana Therapy Guide, enabling you to:

• Facilitate Ikebana workshops focused on relaxation, mindfulness, and healing

• Work with community groups and selected care facilities (with appropriate supervision)

• Expand your creative or therapeutic practice into meaningful social impact

Course Dates

• 27 August (Thursday): 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

• 28 August (Friday): 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

• 30 August (Sunday): 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Location

Abbotsford Convent along with visits to community and care settings (additional venues to be confirmed).

Who Is This Course For?

For Ikebana Artists

Elevate your practice by learning how to create deeper emotional and healing experiences through your teaching.

For Therapists & Facilitators

Integrate Ikebana into your existing work as a powerful tool for mindfulness, expression, and wellbeing.

For Career Explorers & Enthusiasts

Curious about combining creativity and care? This course offers a unique pathway into a meaningful and emerging field.

Prerequisite

Basic Ikebana Skills & Knowledge

We warmly welcome you to join the Ikebana Therapy Guide Course, even if you are not yet qualified to teach ikebana. We encourage you to continue your ikebana studies, as gaining a deeper understanding of its beauty, philosophy, and therapeutic value is a lifelong journey. We hope this course will support and inspire you along the way.

No previous ikebana experience? You are still welcome. Simply attend a 60-minute introductory workshop with Shoso Shimbo before the course or during the Melbourne Ikebana Festival 2026 to gain the basic knowledge needed to participate. You may be required to complete a short questionnaire before your application to this course can be accepted.

Limited Places

To ensure a personalised experience, participation is limited to 18 participants.

Course Fees

• Standard: AUD $960 + JPY 20,000 (certificate fee)

• Early Bird (by 31 July 2026): AUD $800 + JPY 20,000 (certificate fee)

Certification & Assessment

• A short assessment will take place during the course

• Results will be delivered within two months

• Upon passing, you may apply for certification through the Japan Ikebana Therapy Association

How to Apply

Please vist our FAQ page before you apply.

1. Complete the application form. If you are not able to use the form, plesae send an email to wa.ikebana@gmail.com, re: Thrapy Guide. 

2. Pay the course fee (certificate fee payable after passing) to Tsubo Melbourne Pty Ltd. Early Bird (by 31/7/2026) or Standard. If you are in Australia, you can also book the Early Bird Option using our Trybooking system.

3. Receive your acceptance confirmation

4. Join us on 27 August and begin your journey

Refund Policy

• If the course is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, a full refund will be issued, excluding any institutional or administrative fees.

• If you cancel your enrolment on or before 31 July 2026, you will receive a 50% refund of the course fee.

• No refunds will be issued for cancellations made on or after 1 August 2026.

FAQ: Please visit this page before submitting an enquiry.

Learn from Experts

Be guided by internationally respected leaders in the field:

• Dr Eiko Hamasaki

• Professor Niikawa

• Experienced Ikebana Therapists as Teaching Assistants

Eiko Hamasaki Ph.D. in Social Innovation (Doshisha University), Certified Psychologist. Chairperson of the NPO Flower Psychology Association, Research Fellow at Doshisha University, and part-time lecturer at Nishiyama Junior College. 

Also active in single-parent, youth, women’s empowerment, and dementia support programs. 

Recipient of the 2017 Yomiuri Welfare and Culture Award for Ikebana Therapy.

Expertise: Dementia care, family and youth support, social participation, and therapeutic Ikebana.

Key Works:The World of Ikebana Therapy, Theory and Practice of Social Innovation, and research on “Ikebana Therapy” and community participation.

Tatsuro Niikawa Ph.D. in Political Science, Waseda University. Former Associate Professor at Tohoku University and Professor at Doshisha University. 

Currently Professor Emeritus at Doshisha University, Visiting Professor at the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature and Kansai University, and President of the Japan Ikebana Therapy Association. Also chairs several public and community organizations in Kyoto.

Expertise: Public administration, local governance, public policy, civic participation, and social innovation.

Key Works:The World of Ikebana Therapy, Dynamic Studies on Public Governance, Introduction to Policy Studies, Theory and Practice of Social Innovation, among others.

浜崎英子

同志社大学心理学専攻卒業　同志社大学大学院総合政策科学研究科博士後期課程修了ソーシャル·イノベーション博士（同志社大学）、公認心理師。NPO法人フラワー·サイコロジー協会理事長、同志社大学人文科学研究所研究員、西山短期大学非常勤講師、そのほか京都府ひとり親家庭自立支援センタースーパーヴァイザー、児童発達支援NEXT SCHOOL心理師、華道本能寺家元華務職、日本いけばな芸術協会特別会員。実践、研究分野：認知症ケア、ひとり親支援、不登校ひきこもり支援、若者就職支援、女性活躍支援、児童発達支援。2017年にいけばな療法で読売福祉文化賞受賞。著書、論文：「いけばな療法の世界」（あいり出版）、ソーシャル·イノベーションの理論と実践（明石書店）、「感染症拡大時における「いけばな療法」の社会参加モデル「いけばな街道」の効果と展望」（ウエルネスジャーナル）、「「いけばな街道」開催における認知症の人の「いけばな療法」による社会参加の効果」（同志社政策科学研究）など。

新川達郎

早稲田大学大学院政治学研究科修了東北大学大学院助教授、同志社大学大学院総合政策科学研究科教授·政策学部教授等を歴任。現在、同志社大学名誉教授、総合地球環境学研究所客員教授、関西大学客員教授、日本いけばな療法学会会長、そのほか公益財団京都地域創造基金理事長、地域公共人材開発機構理事長、京都わかくさネット理事、京都市環境活動推進協会理事長、京エコロジーセンター館長、日本ソーシャル·イノベーション学会代表等も兼務。専門分野：行政学、地方自治論、公共政策論、市民参加論、ソーシャル·イノベーション論著書：「いけばな療法の世界」（あいり出版）、「公的ガバナンスの動態研究」（ミネルヴァ書房）、「政策学入門」（法律文化社）、「公共政策学教育の現状分析」（明石書店）、ソーシャル·イノベーションの理論と実践（明石書店）等多数。

この認定資格プログラムでは、専門家による指導と実践的な学習を通して、いけばなの理論とそのセラピーへの応用について体系的に学ぶことができます。

メルボルン・いけばなフェスティバルは、いけばなセラピーの国際的な第一人者である 浜崎博士 と 新川教授をお迎えできることを大変光栄に思います。メルボルン・いけばなフェスティバル2026では、お二人がこの認定資格コースを直接指導されます。本プログラムが日本国外で開催されるのは今回が初めてです。この貴重な機会を通じて、参加者はこの分野を代表する専門家から直接学びながら、国際的に認められた認定資格を取得することができます。