The annual Ikebana International Fair was held on Wednesday, December 19, 2018 at Royal Park Hotel (Nihonbashi), under the auspices of Fair Chairperson Madam Matelda Starace, the wife of the Ambassador of Italy. A main feature was 35 ikebana arrangements by ikebana iemotos. The Royal Hall was filled with participants and guests from all over Japan visiting and enjoying embassy booths and international table of 27 embassies, and booths of I.I. HQs, domestic chapters and Tokyo Founding Chapter as well as participating shops. On the second floor, the Italian wine tasting was enjoyed by the participants. This year, the entertainment was the jewelry show by D’ELIA Company. At the beginning of the entertainment, Ms. Fujiko Hirai sang a song (piano by Ms. Reiko Sugimoto), and following that, the ambassadresses wearing the national costume appeared as models.
At the Ikebana International New Year Luncheon on January 16, 2019, hosted by Ikebana International Headquarters, the proceeds from the international booths and international table were donated to Hokkaido and Hiroshima which had been affected by the earthquake and heavy rain disasters in 2018. Mme. Matelda Starace, the wife of Italian Ambassador presented the donation amounting to 707,000 JPY each to Mr. Keiji Abe, the vice governor of Hokkaido and Mr. Masahiko Tanabe, the vice governor of Hiroshima who attended the donation ceremony. Also, Ms. Misako Ishii presented the donation to the Japan Times and Japan National Students Association at this occasion.
