1919(Taisho 8), a new style using Western flowers."Sasaoka style Morika"``Mishoryu Sasaoka'' is known for inventing this. 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 the monthly flowers and Kyoto's special features for each month in his series ``Monthly Flowers, Monthly Kyo'', and for February, ``Plum'' and ``Tenjin-san''.

Plum blossoms are a challenging flower for flower arrangers.

I planted plums and camellias in the waiting area of ​​the tea room in the headmaster's residence. The waiting room is not originally a place to display flowers, but the simple background makes the flowers stand out more than you might imagine.

2Plum is the flower of the moon. This plum is called ``Unryu plum,'' and as its name suggests, it is characterized by its curved branches that resemble a dragon riding up to the sky on a cloud. It is also useful for ikebana. Plum trees, including Unryu plums, are originally characterized by their curved branches, and various ways have been devised to take advantage of these branches. It is a challenging flower material for flower arrangers.

The tip of the branch extending to the right, the tip of the branch rising in the center, and the base. The line connecting these lines forms a triangle.

Now that the word "triangle" has come up, I would like to briefly touch on the flower shape of "Mishoryu Sasaoka."

The founder of the ``Misho-ryu Sasaoka'' style, which incorporated the classical style into ``Morihana.''

Miso-ryu Sasaoka is1919(Taisho8) was founded by my great-grandfather, Chikuho Sasaoka. This was around the time when ``Moribana'', which could be served in a short plate-like container, was starting to become popular. Chikuho, a senior disciple of the Misho-ryu, which has continued since the Edo period, created the Sasaoka-style Morika, which incorporated the Misho-ryu's classic form of scaly shapes (right-angled isosceles triangles) into moribana, creating a new school. I launched it. Sasaoka-style morika is a combination of two right-angled isosceles triangles, large and small.

``New landscape flowers'' where you can enjoy the natural scenery

My grandfather, who was the second generation head of the family, always told me to come up with new kata. Since I was young, I have continued to practice composing strict right-angled isosceles triangles, and there are many branches in nature that do not fit perfectly into a triangular shape, but have a flavorful shape. I proposed "New Landscape Flowers" to take advantage of these mischievous branches and let them grow more freely.

Studying with professors within the school,2021Years10Succession of three generations of iemoto held at Shoren-in Monzeki in June10It was announced at the anniversary ikebana exhibition. The idea is to swing out large, tasteful branches and quietly place a single flower at their feet.

This way of growing Unryu plum is truly a ``new landscape flower''. In this work, the Unryu plums happen to fit in a triangle, but as long as the branches are good, it doesn't matter if they fit in a triangle or not.

The flowers attached are camellia bushes. The vase was created by Hosai Matsubayashi, the 16th generation of Asahi ware.100This is a work I received to celebrate my anniversary. Although it has gentle curves, it has a dignified appearance that goes well with the atmosphere of Unryubai.

“Tenjin-san” plums and “Oimatsu” Kamishichiken dango

Speaking of plums in Kyoto, the plums from Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, nicknamed "Tenjin-san," are the ones that come to mind. Every year,2From the beginning of the month3Until the end of the month, approx.50Type approx.1,500The real plum tree was planted2The Plum Garden of Manpyeong will be opened to the public. The best time to see them is as expected.2Late in the month. My family also visits Tenjin every year around this time to fully enjoy the signs of spring that have finally arrived in Kyoto. And at the tea shop in the plum garden, a long-established store called Kamishichiken,Yusoku Confectionery GochoshinshoIt is customary to have Shichiken Dango from Oimatsu.

A large tea ceremony where Kamishichiken's geisha and geisha performers also appear.

The climax of Tenjin's plum blossoms can be said to be2Month25This is the "Plum Blossom Festival" which is held on the same day. On this day, which is the anniversary of the death of Sugawara Michizane, who is enshrined at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, a festival is held in memory of Sugawara Michizane, who loved plum blossoms, by offering a sacred food with plum blossoms to the main shrine. Additionally, on this day, in honor of the Kitano Grand Tea Ceremony held by Hideyoshi, an outdoor tea ceremony will be held at Baien, and the geisha and maiko of Kamishichiken will also appear, making the festival very colorful.

1100“Kyokusui Banquet” revived for the first time in many years

One of the games played by the Heian aristocrats was called ``Kyokusui no Ute.'' It is an elegant feast where you sit in front of a flowing stream and recite poetry while a sake cup is poured in front of you.

At Kitano Tenmangu Shrine,2016year, approx.1100This “Kyokusui Banquet” was revived for the first time in many years, and I was the first to attend the first Kyokusui Banquet.1I participated as a singer. Tenjin's Kyokusui Banquet is held in a Japanese-Chinese recitation format, with the men reciting Chinese poems and the women reciting Waka poems. Regardless of the quality of the Chinese poetry, it was a precious moment of elegance and solemnity.

This year's taiga drama ``Hikaru Kimi e'' is set in the Heian period. The life of aristocrats during the Heian period, which is not well known, is being recreated through the drama, and I am watching it with great interest, and I think this ``Kyokusui no Ute'' may also appear someday.

After the "Plum Blossom Festival",3The moon is right around the corner. It's the season of Hina dolls. Spring is finally coming to Kyoto.