AR System Supports Home Ikebana Learning and Mindfulness
People recognise ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, as an important element of Japan’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. Also known as Kado, or the way of the flower, the practice promotes creativity, mindfulness and aesthetic awareness. Many people living in cities use ikebana to bond with nature and take a break from daily pressures. The practice also benefits psychological well-being.
Participation in ikebana has declined due to accessibility issues. Traditional learning often requires long-term training with an experienced instructor, which can be difficult for those without access to local lessons, especially outside Japan. This restricts many people from experiencing ikebana’s benefits.
Researchers at Tohoku University in Japan have developed an augmented reality system called HanaARrange to support independent practice and promote hands-on learning. HanaARrange combines real flowers with artificial intelligence-based feedback, permitting users to receive immediate digital guidance while working directly with real ikebana materials. This method helps users build their skills more effectively than digital recreations alone and offers benefits such as greater convenience, improved access for those without local instructors, and enhanced opportunities to engage in mindfulness and creativity.
The system operates through an augmented reality headset that displays information about flower angles, spatial structure and arrangement guidance during practice sessions. Users arrange real flowers and branches while viewing guidance displayed around them. The system also delivers AI-supported feedback and explanations that encourage reflection and creativity, as opposed to focusing solely on the finished arrangement.
The researchers created the project to support traditional cultural practices through technology while preserving the hands-on nature of ikebana. The project aims to help people who cannot easily attend traditional lessons because of where they live or their schedules.
One of the researchers involved in the project was Dr Xiyue Wang, a research fellow at the Research Institute of Electrical Communication at Tohoku University. Dr Wang has also studied ikebana for four and a half years. The project explored how digital tools could support learning without replacing practical experience or the traditional instructor-learner relationship.
Before designing the platform, the research team interviewed 11 ikebana students and 10 instructors. They discussed problems experienced during self-practice. Participants identified several common difficulties, including understanding techniques involving three-dimensional space, time, and the continuous effect of an arrangement. Cultural and language-related barriers also caused challenges for learners from outside Japan. In addition, participants highlighted financial concerns about purchasing flowers for practice.
The interview findings shaped the support system’s design. The final platform uses augmented reality and artificial intelligence to address the challenges identified by students and instructors.
Researchers developed HanaARrange for use with the Apple Vision Pro headset. The system includes a help menu that lets users access explanations whenever required. Virtual guides show the recommended positions and angles of flowers for different ikebana styles. Users can move these virtual guides within their arrangements while they work.
The platform also includes an artificial intelligence assistant. It answers questions about ikebana techniques and principles by using official learning materials. Users record notes, save photographs of their work and display reference arrangements alongside their creations. The system offers a bilingual Japanese-English interface for local and international learners.
Researchers evaluated the platform through two studies. In the first study, beginners learned basic ikebana forms. Participants practised both with and without the support system. Results showed that augmented reality guidance helped users create more accurate arrangements without increasing mental effort.
In addition to increasingly accurate arrangements, participants in the first study reported that the experience remained relaxing and mindful. They experienced a sense of connection with nature while using the system, suggesting that digital guidance could be added without reducing these aspects of the experience.
Building on these conclusions, a second study involved more experienced ikebana practitioners. Participants used the system across several design updates and provided feedback to improve it. Their experiences showed that augmented reality and artificial intelligence could support long-term learning, self-reflection and communal involvement while respecting the role of instructors.
Together, the findings demonstrated that technology could support cultural learning. The results suggested that learners could practise independently while safeguarding key elements of traditional arts education.
Professor Chia-huei Tseng led the project and assembled an international research team of students and researchers from Japan, Turkey, and the United States. The team also acknowledged support from the local ikebana community in Sendai during the project.
The study received an Honourable Mention Award at the ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference and is scheduled to be presented in Singapore on 13 June 2026. The award is granted to the top 5% of presenters at the conference. It recognises researchers whose work connects digital technology alongside traditional arts education and spotlights the significance of hands-on learning. The recognition highlighted research on how technology can support cultural learning while preserving classic artistic practices.
