Ellen Masako Sayegusa, a longtime master instructor of the Sogetsu style of ikebana, or Japanese flower arranging, died Sept. 13 at her home in Kaimuki. She was 98.

Sayegusa was born in Honolulu and attended McKinley High School before going to Japan to finish her education, her family said in a written tribute.

She studied under Sofu Teshigahara, founder of the Sogetsu school of flower arrangement, and attained the highest Sogetsu rank of kyojunsho.

She returned to Honolulu in 1937 and taught ikebana, creating flower arrangements for state occasions such as visits by the emperor of Japan. She helped found the Ikebana International Hawaii chapter in 1960.

In 1979 she established the Sayegusa School of Flower Arrangement and as late as 2003 was teaching at her home four days a week, her family said.

The Sogetsu style encourages freedom and creativity in flower arranging and holds that ikebana should be enjoyed by all instead of being an exclusively Japanese art, according to the Ikebana International website.

Mayor Frank Fasi proclaimed April 8, 1989, as "Ellen Sayegusa Day," and more than 100 students participated in a "Tribute to Flowers" event in her honor. In 2002 the Japanese Women’s Society of Hono­lulu named her one of 50 "Outstanding Japanese Women of the 20th Century in Hawaii."

She is survived by son Dennis and six grandchildren.

A memorial service in Honolulu will be announced later.