Keio Sakura from Yamagata Prefecture


Keio Sakura.  the Japanese cherry blossom tree fascinates people with a lot of pale pink flowers and a dignified presence. From Yamagata prefecture where it still snows quietly, KeioSakura is announcing the beginning of spring.

“The winter-blooming flower”
KeioSakura is a same variety of SomeiYoshino, the typical cherry blossom tree you can find in early spring all over Japan. You can enjoy KeioSakura even putting cut branches into a flower vase because it splinters into a number of twigs with many beautiful pale pink flowers. Inaturally blooms in spring like SomeiYoshino, but prominent technique of growers in Yamagata prefecture enables Keio-Sakura to bloom even in winter. “Winter-blooming cherry blossom tree, ahead of early signs of spring, gains popularity in Japan coloring New Year’s Day and other winter events.

 

“Mechanism to bloom flowers in winter”
KeioSakura starts to bloom by misunderstanding that spring has come when it is exposed to heat in the greenhouse after harvested from the field. Growers take advantage of this natural characteristic and can uninterruptedly continue shipping out from late December till Aprilby adjusting timings of harvests and treatments in the greenhouse. It gives a surprise to people all over Japan by the fact that blooming Keio-Sakura brings spring earlier from the snowy country like Yamagata prefecture.

“Tip of decoration”
Please pay attention to the following pointsWhen you take good care of KeioSakura, the flowers will not wither easily and can last long.

  1. When you put it in a vase, you should split the cut end of the branch verticallyThe surface area contacting with water increasesand that facilitates easy water uptake.
  2. When you use the flower food – the post-harvest preservative, you can enjoy blooming flowers more because flowers open wider than usual. It can also have an effect of making the pink color more vivid.
  3. You can enjoy Keio-Sakura longer when it is decorated at the indoor entrance, where the temperature is lower than in other rooms with heaters.

Source:
Oishi Yamagata Suisin Kiko(Yamagata Specialty products Promoting Organization)
http://www.yamagata.nmai.org/perorinshun/vol112_keiou04.html
http://www.yamagata.nmai.org/perorinshun/index.html

Translated by Fuchu

 

Flower farm Tsukasa “carnations”

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Flower farm Tsukasa, which we receive flowers from for the third year this season, grows carnations in the mountains of the Izu Inatori district of Shizuoka prefecture. The growing area of 4,630㎡ is at 300m above sea level. The cultivation volume is currently about 600,000 stems with 26 varieties.

The area has an advantage in cultivation of being cool even in summer at high altitude, and that contributes to earlier harvesting than other growers in the southwestern region.

While stable cultivation is getting difficult due to global warming in recent years, Flower farm Tsukasa is trying to avoid bad influences from the climate change by making full use of technology in production. In addition, they are targeting for stable cultivation by working hard day and night so that customers can purchase with confidence.

Why don’t you use flowers from Flower farm Tsukasa, as you can always choose flowers from their well-balanced variations?

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Original article written by Mr. Sano, translated by Fuchu

Traditional New Year flower decoration

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Item:Cut pine tree, “Senryo” (Sarcandra glabra)
Growers:
Cut pine tree
Mr. Shioiri Katsumine, Mr. Hasegawa Akihiro (Ibaraki Prefecture)
“Senryo” (Sarcandra glabra)
JA Kochi Geitosougo (Kochi Prefecture), Mr. Endo kozaemon, Mr. Hasegawa Matabe (Ibaraki Prefecture)

We displayed Cut pine tree and “Senryo” which have been traditionally important items for the Japanese people to celebrate the New Year’s Day.

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matsu Since pine tree is an evergreen plant which does not lose its leaves all year round, it has been regarded as a lucky charm, symbolizing long life.

In addition, it is displayed on the entrance gate of a house as a mark to welcome the “Toshigami-sama”. Toshigami-sama is a deity based on Japan’s Shinto-ism who is thought to visit each house on the New Year’s Day to bring happiness to people. The deity is also said to rule agriculture and brings a good harvest.

matsu Annual special auction for Cut pine tree was held on December 6.

matsu Variety Introduction
Please pay attention not only to the product lineup but also to the auspicious names.

”Syoryu” literally means a rising dragon. The dragon is a symbol of good luck. “Fukurai” literally means fortune coming. Both are auspicious names suitable for New Year’s celebrations.

✤ Mr. Shioiri Katsumine   “Nebikimatsu” (pines with roots)  

  • 201130M106Shoryu Nebiki
  • 201130M108Fukurai Syoryu Nebiki
  • 201130M110Miyajima Goyo

✤ Mr. Hasegawa Aklihiro  “Nebikimatsu” (pines with roots

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  • 201130M114
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It is said that Sarcandra glabra was named after “a lot of money” because it bears many little red or yellow fruits in Japan’s cold season – and that is preciously equivalent with a lot of money. Since it has such a lucky name, people decorate it on the New Year’s Day wishing business prosperous and good luck with money.

*When we say “Senryo”, “ryo” (両) is a unit of money used in Japan until the Edo period. “Sen” (千) means 1,000 in Japanese. 1,000 Ryo is currently $ 1.2 million worth.

Annual special auction for “Senryo”, “Kokematsu” and “Kokeume” was held on December 16.

✤ JA Kochi Prefecture Geitosougo 

  • 201207SE100Sarcandra glabra 7Bunch 90㎝
  • 201207SE103Sarcandra glabra 5Bunch 90㎝
  • 201207SE106Sarcandra glabra 4Bunch 90㎝

 

✤ Mr. Endo Kozaemon 

  • 201207SE117Sarcandra glabra 1st class
  • 201207SE120Sarcandra glabra 2nd class

✤ Mr. Hasegawa Matabe 

  • 201207SE114Sarcandra glabra Special grade

✤ Sarcandra glabra is quite easy to wilt.
Therefore, we recommend a special watering method to smash the stem to increase water uptake.

Please take a look at our Instagram

We propose the traditional Japanese culture of flowers by decorating Cut pine trees and Sarcandra glabra at home, wishing for a Happy New Year!

Translated and edited by Y. Fuchu

JA Toyohashi fair 2020

JA Toyohashi fair 2020 – Flowers that color the new year’s holiday –

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Grower:JA Toyohashi(Aichi Prefecture)
Item:Brassica oleracea var. acephala f. tricolor & Delphinium
JA Toyohashi grows a wide assortment of flowers with lots of different colors, which can fit European flower arrangements rather than traditional Japanese ones.
We proudly introduce flowers from Toyohashi and hope they make people happy and give peace of mind.

 

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We display Brassica oleracea var. acephala f. tricolor & Delphinium with JA Toyohashi’s mascot character “TOPPY chan”
JA Toyohashi grows a variety of flowers using an original cultivation method called “toppy cultivation.”

*What is toppy cultivation?   A special cultivation method on a tray that restrains growth and produces flexible & long stems.

 

✤Brassica oleracea var. acephala f. tricolor
➊High quality standards (shipping standards, sorting standards, keep freshness)
➋They sort products stem size of 40-60cm and flower diameter of about 10cm. So makes them extremely easy to use.

  • 201130S110micro Haresugata
  • 201130S112Haresugata
  • 201130S114Haru no utage
  • 201130S116Feather White
  • 201130S118Miyabi
    Original species!

 

  • 201130S120micro Kirameki
    Original species!
  • 201130S122Feather red
  • 201130S124micro koisugata

 

✤Delphinium
Stems grow tight and well-shaped. They always focus on quality.

  • 201130S102Grand Bleu
  • 201130S104Platinum Bleu
  • 201130S106Super Lavender
  • 201130S108Pastel Lavender

 

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

Translated by Y. Fuchu

FLOWER OF THE YEAR OTA 2020 Award

Ota Floriculture Auction Co., Ltd holds the award ceremony of “FLOWER OF THE YEAR OTA” which annually aims to praise outstanding flower growers who created trends in Japan’s flower industry. From the approximately 200,000 varieties of flowers supplied to our company in 2020, four varieties (and producers) have got awards.

Award-winning varieties are selected by independent experts in Japan’s flower industry among  the flowers nominated by OTA Floriculture Research Institute LTD (a subsidiary company of Ota Floriculture Auction Co., Ltd.) based on data analyzed from many aspects. This award is unique in the point that winners are selected from the viewpoint of “trends”, not only from the one of “quality”.

The signature color of this year in Japan is pink, especially with blueish and grayish tones. Dried flowers continue to gather popularity, and it extends to the trend of dry texture and shabby-chic color even for fresh flowers

Let’s take a look at all prize winners!

◆Grand Prize◆

Grower:JA Kagawa Prefecture Mitoyo Kakibukai
Family:Aster
Species:Mash lavender

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While overall flower trend is moving towards small flowers, Mash lavender has got attention unusually as a large-blooming flower. This flower is a super-large-blooming aster with a diameter of about 7 cm, which broke the old image of aster together with a surprise. It has much of presence even with one stem, and that makes its beauty stands out more. In addition, it has an advantage of long vase life. Although the number of flowers produced in Japan is generally declining, the number of asters has been increasing in recent years. Its grayish color creates a unique atmosphere in line with the recent trend. Taking advantage of its comfortable and warm climate all through the year, Kagawa Prefecture is expected by the Japanese flower industry to play an important role of flower production in winter. Incidentally, this is the first time for a grower in Kagawa Prefecture to have got the highest award.

 

 

◆Outstanding performance award◆

Grower:Yagi Rose Breeding Farm
Family:Rose
Species:Vase

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The excellence award has been given to the original variety of the Yagi Rose Breeding Farm bred by Mr. Hayato Yagi. Bluish dry-textured petals and classic shabby- chic leaves give unique impression we have never had. You cannot forget it once you have a glance. Mr. Yagi got a clue about a future trend of roses during his stay in the Netherlands for his study. When he saw Vase at his first sight on his farm, he intuitively found out that it would become popular, but his mentor – his father – objected saying, “This is no good.” Even so, he continued to improve the variety with belief in his mind that he wanted to develop a new rose variety which stands out even with one stem inserted in a vase. The variety name of Vase is named after from the flower vase. The Vase has been a blockbuster rose getting on the bandwagon of the recent trend. Shizuoka Prefecture is a famous flower producing area, and the yield of cut flower roses is the second largest in Japan.

◆New Flower Encouragement Award◆

Grower:JA Kisyu
Family:Limonium
Species:Sinzii Silver

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Limonium Sinzii Silver is an elegant and pretty variety with lots of dry-textured blueish-pink florets. The part that looks like a petal is a calyx, and then it can last long, and can be also used for swags after dried. The color of calyx matches the recent color trend. The annual yield of Limonium in Wakayama Prefecture is the second largest in Japan, but it most contributes to supply of Limonium to the market in winter, taking advantage of its warm climate. Limonium ranks fourth in the domestic flower production, after Chrysanthemums, Carnations, and Roses. It is obvious that Limonium is a required item among all flowers. Recently, new and lovely varieties have been developed which can be used to flower bouquets. This is the first time that growers in Wakayama Prefecture has won the award.

 

◆New Flower Encouragement Award◆

Grower:YMS Co., Ltd.
Family:Grevillea
Species:Grevillea gold

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Leaves of Grevillea gold are fascinating. The color of the leaf surface is fresh green, and the back is velvet-textured copper gold. It is a beautiful plant with two contrasting expressions in one leaf exported from Israel. It can be used for various purposes such as bouquets, swags, and wreaths in both dried and fresh. It has got popularity from florists because adding one leaf of Grevillea to the flower arrangement increases sense of design. Just bundling several leaves of Grevillea also gets attention as an interior decoration.
The award winner, YMS Co., Ltd. is one of the leading flower import companies in Japan, importing flowers from more than 20 countries. They always try to develop market-oriented strategy and consulted with Israeli growers from an early stage requesting for larger production. And the Israeli growers responded to their request. Such effort from both sides has led to this award. Prior to the Christmas season, it will definitely get more attention.

 

Translated and edited by Y. Fuchu