SAN FRANCISCO — New People, the San Francisco entertainment destination bringing the latest examples of Japanese popular culture to North American shores, welcomes a new retailer to its venue located in the city’s Japantown.
Utsuwa Floral Design produces a mix of traditional Japanese bonsai blended with fresh and playful design accents. The Utsuwa Floral Design at New People is the company’s second retail location in San Francisco.
Feel the power of universe and vastness of nature creatively depicted in a variety of organic and affordably designed bonsai pots and glass. Utsuwa Floral Design’s creations offer artful and natural meditation for people living in urban surroundings. Online orders are accepted at: http://utsuwafd.com.
Valentine’s Day sale: Surprise a loved one with a unique gift. Utsuwa Floral Design kicks off a special double-weekend sale offering 10 percent off on all designs between Feb. 4-5 and 11-12. Among the unique items available are mini-bonsai plants in original pots, starting at $20, artful moss ball aquariums starting at $10, and a wide variety of air plants, succulents and terrariums starting at $15. More information is available on the website.
Hanging shida (fern) workshop: Visitors are also invited to participate in a hands-on workshop on Friday, Feb. 17, at 7:30 p.m. at New People’s Cinema Café, located in the venue’s lobby. Learn traditional and modern arrangement techniques and create customized designs in a unique event open to everyone. These workshops often sell out quickly. Tickets are $35; additional information is available at www.newpeopleworld.com.
Utsuwa Floral Design was founded by U.S.-born Hiro Hayama in 1998. Hayama hails from a family of bonsai masters and he opened his first retail store in Suginami, Tokyo in 2000. As floral designer, he and his florist wife, Misuzu, introduced inventive bonsai and aquarium creations inspired by Asian and Japanese antiques to a new generation of bonsai aficionados in Tokyo.
The couple opened their first retail store in the U.S. in San Francisco in 2010 (located at 1339 Polk St., between Austin and Pine) to highlight these traditional Japanese accents. Their latest location at New People will showcase a whole new will showcase a whole new concept that incorporates fresh, modern designs that reflect on an urban environment.
New People opened in 2009 and has become part of San Francisco’s cultural landscape. The 20,000-square-foot contemporary venue features the latest examples Japanese popular culture expressed though film, art, fashion, and a variety of specialty boutiques and ongoing monthly events. It is located at 1746 Post St. near Webster.