Historic Hood River
Saga School of Flower Arrangement
9-14-2016
Notes
Careful notes indicate this is Madam Hoen Otani’s April 1954 class at the Saga School of Flower Arrangement in Seattle Washington. Many of the names are local valley names, so I assume a group of Hood Riverites traveled to Seattle for the class.
- (Front Row:)
- Koke Iwatsuki
- Shizue Iwatsuki
- Madam Otani
- Mrs. Fujimoto
- Mrs. Ogawa
- (Back Row:)
- Jeannie Moss
- Yuki Okimoto
- Mrs. Watanabe
- Mrs. Imai
- Mrs. Yamaki
- Mrs. Tamura
- Mrs. Noyori
- Mrs. Akiyama
- Mrs. Tomita
- Mrs. Endow
- Mrs. Sato
Jeffrey Bryant
When my Grandma Hap Couch was on the Fair Board the building for housing flower arrangements was built. I remember the beautiful arrangements made by the Japanese American women. I suppose some of them were made by the ladies pictured here.
John Akiyama
The Mrs. Akiyama in the photo is Takako Akiyama, my grandmother from my dad’s side.
John Akiyama
I contacted my cousin Betty and she contacted Linda Tamura. This is what Linda Tamura said about the photograph:
Thanks, yes, I’ve seen the photo and my grandmother is included. In fact, when I was a kid, I joined Grandma, Mom and my Aunt Kimi in Friday evening ikebana lessons at Mrs. Iwatsuki’s home. We took flowers, she arranged them, we drew photos then tried to replicate her work.
I could identify Hama Yamaki, Michiko Tamura, Miyoshi Noyori and Tei Endow.
Take care!
linda