About Us

Where Japanese Craft Meets Modernist Design

About Us

Founded in Japan in 2019 as @modernistikebana on Instagram, Japan Modern is the world’s first specialist dealer devoted exclusively to vintage Japanese modernist ikebana vessels. Our vase collection is held at our dedicated warehouse in Japan, where each piece is measured, documented and water-leak tested by our staff before being carefully packed and dispatched worldwide with full tracking.

Ikebana is the 700-year-old Japanese art of floral arrangement, defined by line, form and negative space. During the mid-20th century, modernist and avant-garde ideas transformed its traditional ceramics into increasingly sculptural and experimental forms. Many of the kilns responsible for these vessels are now-defunct, and their works will never be produced again.

We curate and place these post-war vessels globally—singular Japanese objects with enduring sculptural presence.

Although this genre has never been formally defined in academic literature, we introduced the term “modernist ikebana” to describe vessels shaped by the influence of post-war and mid-century modernism. The designation is now widely used to identify this distinct category of Japanese vessel.

Since 2019, we have placed thousands of vessels into private collections across 20 countries, as well as with leading mid-century modern retailers, florists, ikebana instructors and students, artists and collectors worldwide.