VIEWPOINT Viewpoints and Letters to the Editor are published in Hort- comments on matters of concern to horticulturists. These are Science to provide members of the American Society for Hor- not statements of official Society policy nor do they necessar- ticultural Science an opportunity to share their experiences and ily reflect the views of a majority of the Society’s members.

Analysis of Flower Appreciation and Its International Comparison Contribute to Progress of Flower Production and International Flower Trade Eisuke Matsuo Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890,

What types of ornamental plants do people of green plants only (19%) or a combination Japanese concept of flower admire and how arc they appreciated in the of green plants and flowering plants (67%), world? It may be quite different from nation as shown in Fig. 1 left (Matsuo, 1989). What concept do the Japanese people have to nation or from culture to culture. For ex- In Japanese daily life, people sometimes of flower? In general, they think “beauti- ample, , cherry blossoms, collect flowers or plant materials such as ful”, “cute”, “heart-warming”, “gentle”, and pine trees are very popular in Japan, vegetables, fruits, or garden or forest trees and so on (Hayashi et al., 1978; my unpub- while roses and lawns are popular in Europe. from the field, and then put them into cups lished data). These thoughts on flowers sound Moreover, if we focus on a single species or vases for decoration. Such behavior was quite wan, calm, and simple, but not showy such as Easter lily (Matsuo, 1986b), a dwarf more popular in the past than today, and is or gorgeous. In fact, according to a survey type is preferred in the United States; large, seen more often in rural than urban areas. on the flower designs on Japanese - white flowers are more appreciated in Eu- Today, this is also observed in Japanese tra- wares, or shikki, rather simple plants such ropean countries: and plants with a balance ditional flower arrangements; plant mare- as Japanese plum, bamboo, or pine trees, are of leaves, stem, and flowers more admired rials, such as those mentioned above, were popularly used (Table 1) (my unpublished in Japan. Such differences, which may de- observed in »75% of 781 vases that were data). Moreover, as pointed out by historian pend on sociological or cultural background, displayed in flower arrangement shows in Wakamori (1975), there is a tendency among affect commercial flower production, inter- Kagoshima in 1986-89 (my unpublished Japanese to reject fascinating and gorgeous national flower trade, home gardening, plant data). flowers introduced from Europe. Imanishi and breeding, and other horticultural pursuits. I The examples mentioned show clearly that, Yonemori (1988a, 1988b) reported that many here would like to introduce an outline of in Japanese culture, all plants are categorized more Japanese people prefer wild-type flow- Japanese flower appreciation, including the as flowers if they are used for the improve- ers to improved, showy flowers. Toshimori types of plants that the Japanese people ap- ment or decoration of their living environ- (1983) and I (unpublished data) determined preciate as “flowers”, the way they appre- ment. Such continuity, extension, or that fascinating and gorgeous flowers are listed ciate them, the origin of this tradition, and enlargement in Japanese thought is also ob- as the flowers that some Japanese people do the up-to-date changes to encourage further served in Shakkei, a Japanese gardening art not like (Table 2). studies, comparisons, and discussions on this form whereby the cultivated garden uses the When Japanese people look at gorgeous topic in the field of horticulture. surrounding landscape for completion, or in flowers such as a red rose, a red gladiolus, the use of wild, native plants or flowers such or a bird of paradise, they think “heavy”, “unpleasant”, “loud”, “showy”, “strong”, Definition of “flower” in Japan as , rapeseed, cherry blos- soms, or tea flowers for food, tea, or edible or, sometimes, “ugly”. However, this does What sorts of plants are referred to as flower decorations in Japanese meals. not always mean that the Japanese do not in Japan? The word “flower” causes Japa- nese people to think not only of flower struc- tures, but also of plants themselves. In reality, most authoritative Japanese dictionaries de- fine flowers as any plant or plant part, in- cluding flowering organs, which are offered to the gods (Kamisama) or to ancestors at the household Buddhist altars or cemetery tombs. Thus, the Japanese definition of flower is not limited to the flowering organ, but includes all or parts of the plant. According to a survey I conducted, at 86% of the cem- etery tombs checked, the offerings consisted

Received for publication 15 Dec. 1989. I ac- knowledge Toshiaki Ozasa, Hiroshima Univ., Hi- roshima, and Joyce Latimer, Univ. of Georgia, Athens, for their reading this manuscript. The cost of publishing this paper was defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. Under postal regu- Fig. 1. Percentage of usage of green plants (G); showy, colorful planfs (C); or combinations of green lations, this paper therefore must be hereby marked and colorful plants (G + C) seen on tombs (left, compiled after Matsuo. 1989) or used in advertisement solely to indicate this fact. arrangements (right, my unpublished data).

1468 HORTSCIENCE, VOL. 25(12), DECEMBER 1990 Table 1. Plants seen in designs on Japanese lac- Table 2. Flowers liked or disliked by Japanese plays an important role in how Japanese ap- z querwarc (Shikki).z students. preciate plants. In summary, the Japanese appreciate flowers with all their senses. Such appreciation is referred to by Japanese as being inspired by the motion of plants because the motion is analogous to the changes in peo- ple’s surroundings (Wakamori, 1975). There are other characteristics of flower zTwenty plant species were observed on 87 pieces appreciation in Japan. The Japanese notice of Japanese . and appreciate the effect of the environment yPlants observed on > 10% of the wares are listed on plant beauty. For example, morning dew (my unpublished data). enhances the beauty of plants differently than does the setting sun. In other words, Japa- nese see the environment reflected in their plants. Japanese appreciate not only flowers at full bloom, but also young plants and/or aged plants, as observed in bonsai. The ap- Two-hundred-eighty respondents listed one IO three flowers they like; 130 flower types were listed and preciation that every stage of a plant has its the flowers liked by > 10% of the respondents arc own beauty to be admired was explained by listed; 104 of 205 respondents listed no flowers Kenkou-houshi (Yoshida, 1331): cherry they dislike, and 101 of them listed one IO three blossoms are tasteful not only at full bloom they dislike. Those who disliked any flowers listed but also before the flowers open or after they 75, and the flowers disliked by > 3.5% of the total have fallen. This type of appreciation is ex- respondents, arc listed (my unpublished data). tended to a view of human life that is ex- pressed by the saying “there is a fruit as well or “branches and leaves give life to the flower as a flower in our life”. organs as a flower in the total aspect”. This Bonsai also shows that Japanese enjoy means that the flower itself does not always growing plants with their own hands and that function as a flower, but a balance of flow- they find themselves in these plants in a ers; leaves and branches are important as a manner similar to the way they relate to their flower. Such appreciation is typically ob- own children; i.e., they personify the plants Fig. 2. Types of flowers Japanese like. I asked served with Easter lily or chrysanthemum. they cultivate. At the same time, they enjoy 194 respondents lo list three flowers they like. ‘Hinomoto’ Easter lily is preferred to ‘Geor- the cut flowers or potted flowers they buy at The types of three flowers liked were classified gia’ because the former has a good balance flower shops. These are admired visually, into three types: Gorgeous flowers only (G), of flower, stem, and leaves, while the latter because they have not been grown by their simple and gorgeous flowers (S + G), and sim- has leaves that are considered to be too long purchasers. ple flowers only (S) (my unpublished data). (Matsuo, 1986b). In chrysanthemum flower From the facts mentioned above, two types contests. when a pot chrysanthemum has un- of flower appreciation can be categorized appreciate such showy flowers. For exam- balanced leaves, i.e., leaves that are too large (Table 3). First, plants with showy, gor- ple, showy flowers such as rose, sweetpeas, or too small, or leaves that are dirty, dis- geous flower organs are admired at full bloom. freesia, etc., are listed as flowers they love, eased, broken, or insect-damaged, it is rated People observe the beauty of plants, which along with simple flowers such as lily of the low. From the same point of view, flowers is concentrated in flower organs. with their valley, gypsophila, cherry tree, Cosmos bip- sold at the flower market are priced low when own eyes. One typical example is buying innatus, etc. (Toshimori, 1983; Imanishi and they have unbalanced leaves. and admiring cut flowers. This appreciation Yonezawa,l988b; my unpublished data). Such appreciation is extended into flower is quite acquisitive, thus I term it “acquir- Surveys (Asahi Shimbun, 1975; Nihon arrangement. In typical flower arrangements ing” appreciation. Second, all plants, in- Keizai Shimbunsha, 1968, 1973, 1976, in Western countries, showy flowers are put cluding plants with simple flowers, are 1978a-c, 1980; Toshimori, 1983) of flowers into vases and the flower itself has an im- admired with all senses. while people grow displayed in homes or grown in private gar- portant role in decoration. In contrast to this, plants and integrate with them from emer- dens reveal that the Japanese buy or would Japanese flower arrangements generally con- gence to death. In this sense, people treat like to plant both simple plants such as Jap- sist of green plants and showy, colorful and appreciate flowers as they do their chil- anese plum, Rhodea japonica, Chlorophy- flowers. Showy flowers are balanced with dren. This attitude toward flowers is very tum comosum, daffodil, Pecteilis radiata, green plants, i.e., the green plants “give life similar to fostering life (Matsuo, 1982, Rhapis flabelliformis, or cherry trees, and to” (cooperate with) the showy flowers. Such 1986a); thus, “fostering” appreciation. In showy ones, such as tulip, pansy, rose, or combined use of green plants and showy Japan, both of these types of flower appre- cattleya orchids. My survey on beloved plants is popular in flower arrangement, as ciation exist in one person, as shown in the flowers showed that »70% of the respon- well as with tomb flowers (Fig. 1). list of beloved flowers (Table 2) and in Fig. dents listed both simple and showy flowers With some flowers, however, the typical 2. I call this phenomenon “dual structure of among the three most-beloved flowers (Fig. flower itself is appreciated as a “flower” flower appreciation”. 2). Thus, it could be said that the Japanese mainly at full bloom, and the leaves are not love and want to grow not only the simple as important as with others. Examples in- Origin of the two types of flower plants but also showy ones. clude sweetpeas, tulip, carnation, cattleya, appreciation dendrobium, and gladiolus (my unpublished data). It is interesting that most of these How did this phenomenon come into ex- Japanese appreciation of plants as flowers were introduced from Western coun- istence? Judging from the plants listed in the flowers tries and became popular after the rev- oldest Japanese literature “Kojiki” and How do the Japanese appreciate these plants olution. These showy flowers are, so to speak, “Nihonshoki”, written in the 8th century AD, as flowers? It is well-known in Japan that the “monsters” of flower organs that catch plants were very important in people’s daily leaves and branches, in addition IO flowers, our eye. In other words, people appreciate life, both as materials for food, medicines, are very important as a flower. This is ex- the beauty of flowers with their sight. In ad- clothing, and dyes, and as materials to con- pressed by a saying: “branches and leaves dition to sight, in Japan, aroma, touch, or nect humans and the gods (Matsuda, 1977; co-work with flower organs as a “flower”, hearing the whispering of branches or leaves Saito, 1977; Sakurai, 1977; Wakamori,

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