``Misho-ryu Sasaoka'' was founded in 1919 (Taisho XNUMX) and is known for devising a new ``Sasaoka style morika'' using Western flowers. The current headmaster, Ryuho Sasaoka, is attracting attention for his activities in a wide range of fields, including not only traditional flower arranging expressions, but also collaborations with other genres such as musicals and Kyogen. Mr. Sasaoka, who lives in Kyoto, talks about monthly flowers and Kyoto's special features for each month in his series ``Monthly Flowers, Monthly Kyo.'' September is ``Kikyou'' and ``Meigetsu.''

The remnants of summer and the deepening autumn atmosphere expressed with bellflowers and Benimansaku

The bellflower, which has pretty blue-purple flowers, has been popular for a long time and is even used as a family emblem. It is one of the seven autumn herbs, and falls under the category of autumn as a seasonal word, but it actually blooms from early summer. It is difficult to land the flowers, and a lot of water is required to make the flowers last longer. It's fun to leave the flowers in buds and watch the soft purple petals gradually open. Many autumn flowers, including bellflowers, have gentle and graceful colors, and they look more elegant when added as an accent rather than as the main feature.

This time, the main character is Benimansaku. This deciduous shrub, also known as the "round-leafed tree," has very cute heart-shaped leaves. In autumn, the leaves change color in a gradation from green to yellow, red, and finally brown. There is no other autumn plant in which a single branch is colored with so many different colors, and it is one of the flower materials that you will want to use during this season. Kikyo is an accompaniment to such ``Benimansaku.'' Since it is a flower that blooms in summer, I tried to express the vestiges of summer and the gradually deepening taste of autumn.

An object created by a curved wood sculptor is likened to a vase.

Although it looks like an unusual vase, it is actually not a vase, but an object created by a curved wood sculptor named Shogo Watari. Mr. Wataru, who has been trained in a furniture workshop, overseas bentwood techniques, and traditional wooden barrel production, uses his skills to energetically present works of innovative form using only Yoshino cypress. He is a notable artist. This object was not made with flowers in mind in the first place, so it can only hold a small amount of water.

The key was to go as low as possible to fit the shape of the work and just enough so that it didn't touch the desk where the object was placed.

A memorable moon-viewing concert at Jisso-in Monzeki

In September, the air becomes clearer and the moon in the night sky becomes brighter. That was almost 9 years ago. We held an event at Jissoin Monzeki in Iwakura where you could enjoy a concert and wait for the moon to rise. In order to let as many people know that although it is a temple connected to the imperial family, it is in severe damage and needs urgent restoration, an initiative of Keiko Aso, an essayist who lived in Kyoto at the time, was organized by volunteers, including myself. It was a concert event where people gathered together.

The performer will be Gonchichi from the guitar duo, and I will be in charge of the flower decorations at the venue. A large bamboo folding screen was set up on the wide veranda facing west, and the autumn leaves of rowan were placed on it. Even though I was worried about the weather, it turned out to be sunny that day. As the concert drew to a close, a beautiful moon appeared from behind the large folding screen. Of course, we checked the time and position of the moon to rise in advance, and calculated the height, color, and location of the work accordingly. The architecture of Jisso-in Temple, ikebana, the moon, the sounds of insects, and Gonchichi's performance. It was a wonderful space where everything came together. My memories of the moon are so vivid that I can still see that scene in my mind.

Kyoto has many scenic spots on the moon.

The moon floating over Osawa Pond at Daikakuji Temple, the moon over the five-storied pagoda at Toji Temple, the moon rising from Higashiyama... Kyoto has many scenic spots on the moon. Moon viewing festivals are also held at many shrines, including Kamigamo Shrine's ``Kamo Moon Festival,'' Shimogamo Shrine's ``Meigetsu Kangen Festival,'' and Hirano Shrine's ``Meigetsu Festival.'' I often receive requests from Kamigamo Shrine, and I have offered flowers at the Kamo Kangetsu Festival several times. At that time, we mainly use the so-called ``seven autumn herbs'' such as pampas grass, bellflower, and Japanese clover, but we have also used Benimansaku.

This year's (Reiwa 9) Mid-Autumn Harvest Moon is September 29th. What kind of moon will illuminate the city of Kyoto this year?