Hana Ikusa (Flower and Sword, 2017) Movie In-Person
Come out for a special screening of the award-winning Japanese movie Hana Ikusa (Flower and Sword) by Mansai Nomura, as part of our Annual Ikenobo Japanese Flower Exhibition. This movie has rarely been shown in the US. This famous Kabuki and Noh historical docudrama is based on real events in Japanese History.
Not Rated. 2 h 7m. Japanese with English subtitles.
Presented by the Official Colorado Chapter of the Ikenobo Society of America, The Boulder Library District, The Iwaya Fund, and the Japanese Foundation, Los Angeles.
Please use the North Side Canyon Entrance if arriving after 6:30 p.m. Parking is available in both the Canyon and Arapahoe lots. To reach the theater from the Arapahoe lot, you can cross the creek using the exterior bridge.
- Date:
- Friday, Oct 3 2025
- Time:
- 6:00pm - 8:00pm
- Location:
- Canyon Theater, Main Library, Theater
- Audience:
- Ages 12 to 18 Ages 18+
- Categories:
- Theater
Plot: In 1584, after the Warning States Period, Senko Ikenobo (flower master) and Sen no Rikyū (tea master) save the hearts of the war-torn people with art. The two men lead their prominent, exemplary lives amidst a city of poverty and civil war as fellow pursuers of beauty, bound together by friendship and mutual trust. The flower monk, Senko, who lived at the hexagonal temple (Rukkokudo) was popular with the townspeople. Senko is said to be the “father of middle interest” and pursues the “beauty of occasional flowers” not only inherited in traditions but also as a result of the “feelings in the air” at that time.
Hideyoshi, ruler of the country, opposes Rikyū’s great influence in tea and orders him to commit seppuku. Senko falls into a state of desperate sadness having lost his rival and friend. To exact revenge Senko uses the power of Kado – the way of flowers. Making Hideyoshi surrender without the use of force, but flowers, Hideyoshi now repents for having mandated the death of Rikyū.