I visited Japan for the first time exactly a year ago to celebrate the birthday of a dear friend who turned 80 on February 27, 2024. The experience opened up a whole new world to me, and I returned both culturally and personally enriched, with newfound Japanese friends, unforgettable experiences, and a deep love for this extraordinary country.
I wrote a series of exclusive blog posts on Thursd.com that I named Japan, My Love: 7 Reasons I Fell in Love With Japan. In this series, I will highlight some of the most striking aspects of my journey. We’ve decided to release them weekly, much like a Netflix series, throughout the spring. If you love Japan or are simply intrigued by its beauty and culture, I invite you to join me on this spring blogging journey.
Chapter 3: Japanese Flowers
My love affair with Japanese flowers began long before my visit, through the work of my teacher, Atsushi Taniguchi. His mesmerizing reels of bouquets, filled with towering 50 cm Japanese pansies, sweet peas, garden roses, ferns, and Campanulas, left me in awe.
When planning my trip, I asked Atsushi how I could visit the Tokyo Ota Flower Market, one of Japan’s major flower auctions. He introduced me to Mary, a wonderful florist who graciously let me accompany her on her morning shopping trip. She even purchased flowers for me to use in a special arrangement for Toshi’s birthday (see Chapter 1).
Flower Auction Japan
Later, Akiko and her colleague from FAJ (Flower Auction Japan) gave me an exclusive tour of the auction, where I was stunned by the quality of the flowers. Japan’s flower production is relatively small and focused on niche markets, yet the quality is unparalleled. I was particularly captivated by the 50 cm pansies and sweet peas, each boasting five to six flowers per stem, something I had never seen before.
Japan’s floral industry is also at the forefront of innovation. FAJ developed ALFLOC, an aluminum multi-tier utility cart in 1990 to introduce an integrated logistics system. In 2002, they launched the ELF bucket system, designed specifically for wet transport, ensuring cut flowers stay fresh during distribution. FAJ continues to lead the way, proactively investing in IT systems to streamline flower transactions. Since 1995, they have been exporting flowers, and in 2012, they began direct imports from around ten countries.
My Japanese Spring Flower Arrangement
For Toshi’s birthday celebration, I selected a beautiful assortment of Japanese spring flowers, like Ranunculus, tulips, Delphiniums, Convallarias, Lupines, and sweet peas. Using traditional kenzans, I arranged them in a refined, elegant display. My dear friend and florist, Kazuyo Asayama, helped me set up the arrangements in my rented tatami room, creating a truly magical atmosphere.
I hope you enjoy following along on this journey as much as I loved experiencing it!
With love and appreciation,
Katya
Read previous: Chapter 2: Japanese Blossom Trees. Read next: Chapter 4: Japanese Kimono and Obi (coming March 27).
All images courtesy of Katya Hutter Floral Design.
