On Monday, the Japanese government revealed that the name of Japan’s new era starting on May 1^st will be “Reiwa (令和).”

This name is cited from the poetry in “Man’yoshu“, which is the oldest existing edited collection of Japanese poetry and this particular poetry brings up plum blossoms saying:
“Shojun wa Rei-getsu nishite, ki yoku kaze *yawaragi, “ume (plum) no hana (blossom)“, wa kyozen no ko wo hiraki ran wa haigo no ko wo kaorasu.”
*the Kanji character of “yawaragi” reads “wa” in another way.

The meaning of this poetry is, “In the refreshing wind which softly breezes in the harmonious month at the beginning of spring, plum blossoms are beautifully blooming as if a beautiful woman is putting a face powder on in front of a mirror, while the feast is surrounded with the fragrance like a scent bag that noble people put on.”

Our prime minister Shinzo Abe, has talked about the meaning behind this word for the coming new era:
“Just as plum blossoms that bloom brilliantly as a sign of spring, everyone can bloom with a hope for tomorrow. That’s what we wish for Japan to be, and that’s why we have chosen this word.”

He also appeared on the NHK evening news on Monday, when he explained the importance of Japanese traditions and spirit along with Japanese blossoms and culture.

 

Plum blossoms, which appeared in the poetry from which “Reiwa” is cited, have the most wonderful scent among all kinds of Rosaceae family plants including fruits, cherry blossoms, apples, pears and even almonds. This is one of the first scent that tells people “Spring is coming.”

Regarding the scent bag which also appeared in this poetry, it is a bag stuffed with Santalum album or Eupatorium japonicum. Even since 7~8C, these kinds of plants have been attracting people in this country.

 

The “Man’yoshu” includes not only Eupatorium japonicum, but also Japan’s seven flowers of spring such as Dianthus and Patrinia scabiosifolia. This shows the culture of enjoying flowers to compose a poetry originates from this collection.

Now, the flower industry is going towards the big annual event, Mother’s Day, when Dianthus like Carnation gets so popular. There may be some opportunities to advertise Dianthus with this new era’s meaning.

After the announcement of the new era’s name, a lot of “Reiwa” phenomena have been seen such as the special edition of newspapers is selling at a high price, or the made up character “Reiwa-chan” has been viral on twitter.

It is needless to say that “Man’yoshu” has suddenly got so popular that many are being sold out, but we hope flowers in that collection also attract people’s attention and hence Japan will be cheered up by beautiful flowers with a lot of flower lovers.

 

 

Original article written by Mr. Murata,
Translated by S. Yamamoto

 

Promoter: JA ZEN-NOH OITA

Grower:
Cooperatives of JA Oita Bungo-ono, JA Oita Bungo-takada, JA Oita Saiki-honan-ume, JA Oita Nambu-saiki, JA Oita Tobu-yamaga, JA Oita Tobu-kitsuki, JA Oita Hohi-taketa, JA Kusu-kokonoe (Lisianthus), and JA Kusu-kokonoe (Marchen Rose)

Item:
Lathyrus odoratus (Sweet Pea), Chrysanthemum, Eustoma grandiflorum (Lisianthus), Rosa, Ranunculus, Gypsophila, Limonium HB

 

We displayed the flowers acknowledged as “The Oita”

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Oita prefecture is blessed with amazing nature. The altitude varies from 0 meters to 1,000 meters depending on the area, that is why unique high-quality flowers are grown throughout a year in each climate.

 

-Sweet Pea-

【Growers】
BUNGO-ONO = JA Oita Bungo-Ono
SAIKI-HONAN = JA Oita Saiki-honan-ume
BUNGO-TAKADA = JA Oita Bungo-takada

• Royal Crimson
  BUNGO-ONO
• Scarlet
  SAIKI-HONAN
• Blue Engel
  BUNGO-ONO
• Neo Grace
  SAIKI-HONAN
• Lavender
  BUNGO-TAKADA

 

• Fujika
  SAIKI-HONAN
• Catherine
  BUNGO-ONO
• Diana
  BUNGO-ONO
• Salmon Pink
  BUNGO-TAKADA
• Little Princes
  BUNGO-ONO

 

• Diana
  BUNGO-TAKADA
• Fairly Pink
  SAIKI-HONAN
• Crystal White
  BUNGO-ONO
• First Lady
  SAIKI-HONAN
• Stella
  BUNGO-ONO

 

• Light Brown
  SAIKI-HONAN
• Brown
  SAIKI-HONAN
• Heart Orange
  BUNGO-TAKADA
• Orange
  BUNGO-ONO
• Orange
  BUNGO-TAKADA

 

• Yellow
  BUNGO-TAKADA
• Yellow
  BUNGO-ONO
• Maccha
  SAIKI-HONAN
• Fresh Apple
  BUNGO-TAKADA
• Soft Blue
  SAIKI-HONAN

 

• Bordeaux
  SAIKI-HONAN
• Milky
  BUNGO-TAKADA
• Heart
  BUNGO-TAKADA
• Kiss Me
  SAIKI-HONAN
• Madonna
  SAIKI-HONAN

 

• Momoko
  BUNGO-ONO
• Sakura
  BUNGO-ONO
• Grace
  BUNGO-ONO
• Celeste
  BUNGO-ONO
• Monet
  SAIKI-HONAN

 

• Fujika
  BUNGO-TAKADA
• Antique
  BUNGO-TAKADA
• Dark Blue
  BUNGO-TAKADA
• Murasaki Shibori
  SAIKI-HONAN
• Navy
  BUNGO-ONO

 

• Navy Blue
  SAIKI-HONAN
• Royal Queen
  BUNGO-TAKADA
• Mulberry
  BUNGO-TAKADA

 

-Ranunculus ✤ JA Oita Tobu-yamaga-

• Mango
  (Trial, Provisional name)
• Orange
  (Trial, Provisional name)
• Dione
• Ninos
• Beige
  (Trial, Provisional name)

 

• Kasumi
  (Trial, Provisional name)
• Castalia
• Pasteria
• Tiva
• Dodona

 

• Musa
• Elice
• Aura
• Ariadne
• White Lithai
  (Trial, Provisional name)

 

• Semiramis
• Lithai
• Lemon
  (Trial, Provisional name)
• Satyros

 

–Lisianthus-

• Voyage Blue
  JA Kusu-kokonoe
• Celeb Orchid
  JA Kusu-kokonoe
• Celeb Yellow
  JA Oita Hohi-taketa
• Amore White
  JA Oita Hohi-taketa
• Bon Voyage White
  JA Oita Hohi-taketa

 

-Rosa ✤ Marchen Rose-

• Sans Adieu!
• M-Vintage Sweets
• Pink Smoothie!
• M-Bridal Red
• M-Gretel

 

-Others-

•  Limonium HB
  Blue Wave
  JA Oita Tobu-kitsuki
• Gyosophila
  Altair
  JA Oita Tobu-kitsuki
• Chrysanthemum (White)
  Jimba
  JA Oita Nambu-saiki
• Chrysanthemum (Yellow)
  Seiko Kogyoku
  JA Oita Nambu-saiki

 

✦Chrysal professional 2 is given to the water of displayed items.

 

Translated by S. Yamamoto

• Thoroughwort Pink
• Thoroughwort White

 

Thoroughwort, one of the “Japan’s seven flowers of fall (see below)”, has been arriving at OTA flower market since last month.
Although it may not be a gorgeous flower, Thoroughwort is worth feasting your eyes on by its beautiful serrated leaves in rich green, and the reddish-brown stems, with the entire upward shape.

Thoroughwort can be fully enjoyed by itself in a vase, though it is also well-known for its excellent scent that is reminiscent of an old cherry blossom. You can enjoy Thoroughwort therefore both as a fresh cut flower and as a dried flower.

Speaking of the scents of Cherry blossom or Sakura, they actually can be categorized into two types: One is the fruity scent like berries, peaches, or cherries. The other is the similar scent to “Sakura-mochi”, a Japanese sweet which is a red rice cake wrapped in a salt-pickled Oshima-sakura’s leaf. (This leaf gives off the Sakura fragrance.)
Dried Thoroughwort gives off this scent just as blooming cherry blossoms from an ancient city. In fact, this scent is said to have been loved by Japanese people since the Heian period (about 1,000 years ago).
If you dry Thoroughwort from late August until early September, you can enjoy the wonderful scent of Sakura throughout the fall season.

There are some signs that dried flowers will be trending among young females and many flower shops are now selling dried flowers in Japan.

In the herb family, there are some species pretty suitable to be dried or potpourri, which brings you a scent just like Thoroughwort.

Why not keep your eyes on the new trend of dried flowers?

 

Japan’s seven flowers of fall

Bush clover (Japanese clovers)	Japanese pampas grass	Kudzu (Japanese arrowroot)	Pink dianthus
Golden lace (Patrinia scabiosifolia)	Thoroughwort	Balloon flower

These flowers are the representative of the fall season. Their names firstly appeared in the Man’yoshu, the oldest existing edited collection of Japanese poetry.

Original article written by Mr. Masaya Murata

Previously I introduced the color of the Olympics logo and Gentian, today I will introduce the flower languages of Gentian.

Gentian’s flower languages mostly represent justice and victory, thus along with Gladiolus, Gentian is sometimes called “flower of victory” because of its upward flowering shape.

Notes; The reason for Gladiolus is said that the shape of the leaves looks like “Gradius,” which is a dagger used in ancient Rome, representing victory. It is also said that the name of Gladiolus originates from this word.

Gentian is a really suitable flower for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics in that it is deep blue-violet, which reminds of the traditional Japanese color (indigo blue), and also is symbolic of “victory.”

At the foreign cemetery in Yokohama, Gentians besides white Lilies and red Roses are often seen to be laid.
Red Rose symbolizes “Love” or “I love you” and Lily is symbolic of “Solemn.” Plus, Gentian’s another flower meaning is “To feel compassion for your sorrow.”
These languages may be the reasons why those flowers are there.

 

• Samurai 08
  Rose
• Siberia
  Lily
• 
  Gladiolus

 

Original article written by Mr. Murata