Learn Nageire Techniques Here

Nageire is another basic style of ikebana. 'Nage' means throw and 'ire' means put in.

It usually uses a tall container for the arrangement. With this very reason, the techniques used in nageire is different from that of moribana.

You cannot use a kenzan in the tall container, because you will insert all the flowers vertically without angle.

So, you use special nageire techniques to insert flowers in a tall vase. They are,

Vertical fixtureCross bar fixtureDirect Fixing

We will study these one by one.

The Vertical Fixture, is the technique used when you have an insufficient length of material.

When you measure the length of the stem and consider the size of the container, and the length of the material is not enough to create a balanced arrangement, you use a straight branch to entend the length of the shorter stem.

What you do is, first you cut the branch a little shorter than the height of the vase. The branch should be invisible from the arrangement.

You split the end of the branch in the middle.

You can use any sturdy branch, but I always use the pussy willow branch.

Then, you also cut the flower stem into half. Later, you slide the material into the branch and fix it firmly together, like this...

Then, place the supporting branch and the material in the tall container, adjusting the angle that you want the flower to be.

The Cross Bar Fixture is used to support the the vertical fixture. To fix the position of the vertical fixture requires the help of the cross bar fixture.

The cross bar is made of 2 short branches, cut slightly longer than the diameter of the vase. It should be positioned slightly lower than the opening of the container.

It should be strong to not to be able to move around when in position. This is what a cross bar fixture looks like...

Instead of putting a cross, you can also choose a Y-shaped branch to make the fixture. Like this...

And these fixtures act as an aid to help flowers stay in position. The flower itself can help too.

And that is the Direct Fixing technique. Direct Fixing is where you insert flowers directly into the container. You let the flowers sit on the mouth of the container or lean on the inside wall of the container.

For soft stems, you can use the scissors to press and flatten the stem at the place where you want to bend it.

Then, when inserted into the container, the bent portion of the stem will stay on the wall of the container.

We will see these nageire techniques in action in the arrangement examples below...

The Basic Upright Nageire Arrangement

On this page, you will learn how to make a basic upright nageire arrangement, which is the most basic form of nageire arrangement.

I will use purple agapanthus as the Shin and Soe, with yellow chrysanthemums as the Hikae.

Before anything, study the kakeizu for this arrangement below.So, as you can see, you need to insert the Shin at 10-15 degrees on the left, towards you. The Soe is 45 degrees on the left towards you.

And the Hikae is 75 degrees on the right, towards you.

As you are aware, making nageire arrangements involve special techniques, and in this arrangement, we need to prepare the cross bar fixture first.

Make the cross bar fixture in the tall vase, like this. Use any sturdy branch. Here, I'm using the pussy willow branch.

Now, it's time to measure the length of the flowers. The rules still apply,

Shin = size of container x 2Soe = 3/4 of ShinHikae = 1/2 of Soe

When measuring Shin, give 10cms more allowance to the specified length because we need to consider the length of the vertical fixture.

Then, measure Soe according to 'adjusted' length of Shin and Hikae to the 'adjusted' length of Soe.

So, in nageire, all the main stems will have about 10cms of extra length.

Let's insert the 3 main stems based on the kakeizu. Using a vertical fixture for the Shin, insert it into the vase.

Make sure it's position is fixed.

For Soe and Hikae, use the direct fixing technique to position them in the vase. The stem can either be bent or cut slantily so that it can lean on the inner wall of the vase.

Making sure again their positions are following the position and angle as defined in the kakeizu.

The Basic Upright Nageire Arrangement

The Basic Upright Nageire Reversed

The basic upright nageire reversed arrangement is the mirror reflection of the basic upright nageire arrangement.

What was on the right, is now on the left side of the arrangement. Let me show you what I mean.

Here is the kakeizu for this arrangement.Shin is 10-15 degrees on the right, Soe is 45 degrees on the right, whereas Hikae is 75 degrees on the left.

I used green berries as the Shin and Soe. And purple pompoms as the Hikae.

First, as in any nageire arrangement, we need to prepare a cross-bar fixture or y-fixture. Here, I used a y-fixture.

The Basic Upright Nageire Reversed

Upright Nageire Variation 1

Similar to upright moribana variation 1, the difference with the basic upright nageire is that Shin is 15 degrees backwards on the right.

For basic upright style nageire, Shin is 15 degrees backwards, on the left.

Here is the kakeizu for this arrangement.For this arrangement, I will use molucella and white stargazer lilies. The molucella is the Shin and Soe and Stargazers as the Hikae

As usual, begin with inserting the Shin first. So Shin is 15 degrees backwards on the right side.

In nageire, sometimes it is difficult to get the angle you want. One useful techniques you can use is, you can tie the branch of the flower to the cross-bar fixture or y-fixture.

That way, the flowers will be more secure.

Upright Nageire Variation 1

Upright Nageire Variation 2

Just like the upright moribana variation 2, the upright nageire variation 2 is an arrangement where the Soe and Hikae switch positions.

Which means, the three main stems are as below:

Shin = 15 degrees forward, on the leftSoe = 75 degrees forward, on the rightHikae = 45 degrees forward, on the left

For a detailed picture, the kakeizu (diagram) for this arrangement is shown below.

Upright Nageire Variation 2

Upright Nageire Variation 3

Here, I am going to show you the upright nageire variation 3 arrangement. Just like the upright moribana variation 3 arrangement, the Soe is mirrored to the opposite direction.

And the Hikae is in the middle.

Shin = 15 degrees forward, on the leftSoe = 45 degrees forward, on the rightHikae = 75 degrees frontward, in the middle

Upright Nageire Variation 3

Upright Nageire Variation 4

Just like the upright moribana variation 4 arrangement, upright nageire variation 4 arrangement is where the Soe is removed.

So, the Shin and Soe's positions are as follows,

Shin = 15 degrees forward, on the rightHikae = 75 degrees forward, on the letfAs you can see further in the kakeizu below, Soe is being removed.

To make this arrangement, prepare the tall container first. Just like any nageire arrangement, cross-bar fixture or y-bar fixture is required.For the flowers, use Bird of Paradise as the Shin and pink stargazer lilies as the Hikae.

Upright Nageire Variation 4

Horizontal Nageire Variation 6

Here, I will explain about the horizontal nageire variation 6 arrangement. It is a nageire arrangement, in a tall vase but arranged low.

Shin and Soe are lowered. Plus, the three main stems are positioned equally apart to create a 360 degrees arrangement, like shown in the kakeizu below.Shin = 85 degreesSoe = 65 degreesHikae = 75 degreesAdd the supporting stems all around but low, because this is a horizontal arrangement.This arrangement is suitable for table decoration.

Horizontal Nageire Variation 6