We believe ikebana can be practiced by anyone, anywhere, and that it offers an approachable path to mindfulness, creativity, and connection with nature. Our goal is to offer accessible, contemporary ikebana education while honoring its Japanese cultural roots with care and integrity. Whether you are completely new to ikebana or continuing a long-term creative journey, you are welcome here.
How It Began
Wide Island Studio was born in Hiroshima in 2016. At the time, I was teaching English at a local Japanese high school through the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program when the school’s ikebana club invited me to join one of their after-school sessions. Curious and eager to try something new, I gladly accepted.
Up until that point, I had always believed I simply wasn’t a creative person. My understanding of creativity was limited to traditional artistic skills that I felt I lacked entirely. Imagine my surprise when, largely through my own intuition, I created an arrangement that I genuinely found beautiful while working with unfamiliar materials and learning in a language I wasn’t fluent in.
That experience changed the way I understood creativity. I realized I had not lacked creativity at all. Rather, I had simply never been given the right environment or tools to explore it. I continued studying with the ikebana club for the remainder of my time in Japan, and after returning to the United States in 2017, I began earnestly searching for a teacher so I could continue my practice.
Ikebana felt different from other art forms. It invited observation and curiosity rather than technical perfection, and taught me to work with the materials rather than control them. Creativity emerged through attention, practice, and curiosity rather than innate talent. For the first time, creativity felt accessible to me and allowed me to create meaningful work long before I was technically skilled.
This experience continues to shape the way I teach today, with the belief that creativity is not an innate talent reserved for a few, but something that can be nurtured through curiosity, observation, and practice.
Why 'Wide Island'?
The name Wide Island comes from the English translation of Hiroshima, literally ‘wide island’. It is where my ikebana journey first began. Beyond the personal significance, the name also reflects the studio’s belief that ikebana should feel open, approachable, and welcoming to anyone interested in exploring the practice while remaining grounded in deep respect for its Japanese cultural roots.
About Leslie
I currently hold the rank of Third Grade Teacher in the Sogetsu School of Ikebana. The Sogetsu approach, which emphasizes creativity, adaptability, and the idea that ikebana can be practiced “anytime, anywhere, using any materials,” deeply influences both my work and teaching philosophy.
My teaching is informed not only by years of ikebana practice, but also by 18 years of professional experience in education and wellness, including advanced degrees in education and psychology, and board certification as a health and wellness coach. Together, these experiences shape a teaching approach that is thoughtful, accessible, and grounded in mindful creative practice.
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