About our teacher

Ms. Salastie
Riitta Salastie demonstrating ikebana in Reykjavik, Iceland, in 2017.

Ms. Riitta Salastie has studied Saga Goryu Kado ikebana in Kyoto since 1987. Her interest is in kado – ikebana as spiritual practice. In her ikebana works there is a strong emphasis in the beauty and dynamic movement of lines. Her flower name Riho Seishinsai (李甫 清森斎) means pure forest, in allusion to her home country of Finland and its landscape that feature vast natural forestlands. In 2018 she established the Helsinki Saga Goryu Kado Aikokai – a Study Group for classical Japanese flower arrangement. At the moment she is chairperson of Ikebana International Helsinki Chapter.