What is the Japanese art of flower arrangement called?

The Japanese art of flower arrangement is called ikebana.

Ikebana developed from Buddhist flower offerings, which became part of Japanese religious practice after Buddhism reached Japan. Over time, these offerings evolved into a disciplined art form emphasizing line, space, balance, seasonality, and the natural character of each stem and branch—not simply the number of flowers used.

The practice became especially established during the Muromachi period (1336–1573), and the Ikenobō school is traditionally regarded as the oldest major school of ikebana. By the late 15th century, flower arranging had become an important art alongside the tea ceremony and incense appreciation. Many later schools developed their own rules and styles.

A common mix-up is treating ikebana as just a Japanese-style bouquet. Traditional ikebana often uses branches, leaves, grasses, and relatively few blossoms, arranged to suggest movement and harmony. The practice is also called kadō, meaning “the way of flowers,” while “ikebana” is commonly translated as “arranging flowers” or “bringing flowers to life.”