Ikebana – the Japanese art of flower arrangement – is an important form of Japan’s Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) that fosters creativity, mindfulness, and aesthetic sensitivity. Also known as ‘Kado,’ or way of the flower, ikebana offers people living in the metropolitan areas a way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and connect with nature, which significantly benefits mental well-being.
However, accessibility challenges mean that the number of people practicing ikebana is on the decline. Beginners are required to undergo a long-term apprenticeship with an experienced master and repeatedly practice inside and outside the classroom to build a sense of harmony with nature, balance, and careful spatial composition. This limits people living in neighborhoods without Ikebana instructors (e.g. outside Japan), rendering them unable to benefit from the psychological and spiritual benefits of this traditional art.
To address this challenge, Tohoku University researchers in Japan have developed a new augmented reality (AR) system called HanaARrange that supports self-practice using real flowers and AI-based feedback. Unlike virtual reality systems that simulate flower arrangement digitally, HanaARrange overlays visual guidance directly onto real-world ikebana materials, simulating the real Ikebana tactile experience.
Users wear an AR headset that displays flower angles, spatial structure, and arrangement guidance while they practice with physical flowers and branches. The system also provides AI-supported feedback and explanations designed to encourage reflection and creativity rather than simply scoring the final arrangement.
“We wanted to explore how technology could support traditional cultural practices without replacing the hands-on experience and teacher-student relationship that are central to ikebana,” says Dr. Xiyue Wang, who has been an ikebana student for four and a half years and a research fellow at Research Institute of Electrical Communication in Tohoku University. “Many people today live busy lives and find traditional arts difficult to continue, and we hope to help more people experience the tangible and cultural value of ikebana.” says Wang.
Before designing the system, the research team conducted interviews with eleven ikebana students and ten instructors to understand the challenges faced by beginners during self-practice. The most common difficulties included grasping the technique that involves using 3-D space, time, and the continuous effect of the arrangement, cultural and linguistic barriers, particularly for non-Japanese participants, and financial constraints related to purchasing flowers for self-practice. These insights became the design guidelines for the support system, which utilizes augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the accessibility of Ikebana.
The final design, named HanaARrange, is based on an augmented device (Apple Vision Pro) and features a help menu that provides learners with explanations at their convenience. Virtual guides demonstrate the ideal positions and angles of flowers for various Ikebana styles, and users can directly reposition them within the physical arrangement. An AI-powered assistant offers answers to questions about techniques and principles based on official learning materials. Additionally, users can take notes, save photographs of their work, and display reference arrangements alongside their own creations. The bilingual Japanese-English interface is designed to make ikebana more inclusive for both local and international learners.
HanaARrange was evaluated by two studies: one involving beginners (Experiment 1) and one involving experienced ikebana practitioners (Experiment 2). In the first study, beginners practiced basic ikebana forms with and without the system. The results showed that AR guidance helped participants create more accurate arrangements without increasing mental effort. Importantly, users reported that the experience remained just as relaxing, mindful, and connected to nature as traditional ikebana practice. In the second study, more experienced learners used the system over multiple design iterations and provided feedback for further improvements. Their experiences highlighted the potential of AR and AI to support long-term learning, self-reflection, and community engagement while respecting the role of teachers and established learning traditions.
Together, the findings suggest that technology can serve as a supportive companion for cultural learning, helping people practice independently while preserving the values that make traditional arts meaningful.
“I hope our efforts help preserve traditional cultural practices by making them more accessible to younger generations and international learners.” says Professor Chia-huei Tseng, who built the international research team comprising international students and researchers from Japan, Turkey, and the USA. “We are extremely grateful to our local ikebana community in Sendai, who supported us and familiarized us with this aspect of Japanese culture.”
The research received the Honorable Mention Award at the ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference and will be presented in Singapore on June 13, 2026. This honor, awarded only to the top 5% of presenters, shines the spotlight on researchers who bridge digital technology and traditional arts education while emphasizing the value of physical, hands-on learning.
- Publication Details:
Title: HanaARrange: Designing an Augmented Reality Support System for Daily Ikebana Practice and Well-being
Authors: Xiyue Wang, Zeynep Eda Altintop, Derek Kirschbaum, Yoshifumi Kitamura, Miao Cheng, Chiahuei Tseng
Journal: Proceedings of the 2026 ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference (DIS ’26)
