The history of the Ikenobo Chapter of San Diego is intricately tied to the life of Professor Sadako Oehler. Ikenobo Ikebana would not have flourished in San Diego without her presence in this city.

In 1958, Professor Oehler graduated from the Ikenobo University Teaching Institute in Tokyo, Japan. The following year, she and her husband, Charlie, moved to the States and settled in San Diego. Soon there after, in 1960, she started teaching classes and was the first Ikebana teacher in San Diego.

She was instrumental in founding the Ikebana International Chapter #119 in 1968 and also the Ikenobo Chapter of San Diego in 1976. She was elected President of the Ikenobo Chapter at that time and continuously reigned as President until her passing in 2023.

Professor Oehler had received many awards and recognition for her work as a cultural icon in San Diego. The one award that was most dear to her heart was receiving the rank of KARO from Headmaster Sen’ei Ikenobo.

In addition to being one of the best Ikenobo Professors in the United States, she was instrumental in founding the first Haiku study group in San Diego, which is still in existence. We are fortunate that she shared one of her Haiku poems with all of us on this Website.

Furthermore, she excelled in the art of Sumie Brush paintings and has produced countless beautiful paintings, which we have included on this web page devoted to Professor Oehler.

In summary, Professor Oehler was like the Renaissance woman of Japanese culture, excelling in Ikebana, Haiku and the art of Sumie Brush painting! We are so fortunate to have had her as our Sensei for all of those years.

Ikenobo Ikebana

San Diego

Ikenobo Ikebana

San Diego

Shoka Shofutai

Click on a photo to view as slides.

Photos provided by Ellen Sakagawa