Mixed Color Morning Glories 混合色の朝顔（アサガオ）

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These are mixed color morning glories. Every color is so beautiful. Morning glories are very popular in Japan. Elementary schools grow morning glories in summer to teach students about plants (I was one such student!) and many municipalities hold morning glory festivals in summer.

You may believe that the plant name morning glory was given because the flowers open in the morning, but that's not true. Morning glory goes to sleep as it gets dark and wakes up (i.e., the flower opens) after nine hours of sleep. They live healthy lives!😉

2026/8/19

Skunkvine (Paederia Foetida) 屁糞葛（ヘクソカズラ）

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Skunkvine (Paederia foetida) is native to Asia and can be found across Japan. The perception of the plant in Japan is it's smelly (as in other countries), so its Japanese name is "hé kuso kazura," which translates into "fart shxx vine." The plant is also so hardy that an imperial court official in the Nara period (710-794) composed a waka poem that he wanted to work hardily like the plant. The poem is included in The Manyōshū, i.e., the oldest extant collection of Japanese waka poetry compiled during that period. 

Despite such a terrible name and the smell, however, the flower's glossy red center always reminds me of jam thumbprint cookies. 

2026/8/14

Shrimp Plant (Justicia Brandegeeana) コエビソウ（小海老草）

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Shrimp plants are native to Mexico, came to Japan in 1931 (according to some websites), and are now grown nationwide. Their Japanese name is "koebi sou," which translates into "shrimp plant," exactly the same. 

2026/8/23

Pale Grass Blue (Pseudozizeeria Maha) 大和小灰蝶（ヤマトシジミ）

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A male pale grass blue (Pseudozizeeria maha) butterfly looks completely different when its wings are open (1st photo) and closed (2nd photo). When closed, you may disregard it because it's plain, just a small white butterfly with black spots. When the wings are open, however, you would be surprised by the beautiful pale blue of the upper side of its wings as suggested by the name. (If you want to see the butterfly showing both sides, see the 3rd photo.) Butterflies are known to open their wings to bask in the sun to warm their bodies, so you're more likely to see the beautiful blue in autumn than summer.   

The pale grass blue resembles the plains cupid (Luthrodes pandava) very much except for the latter having orange spots on the wings. I once mistook a plains cupid for a pale grass blue.   

2025/11/2

2026/8/23

Small Copper (Lycaena Phlaeas) ベニシジミ（紅小灰蝶）

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The small copper (Lycaena phlaeas) flies from March to November in Japan, so it's not unusual to see them but it was my first time to see them, not one but two! Their orange forewings caught my eye. The butterfly's coloration changes slightly across seasons; spring broods are typically brighter while summer ones become darker and more muted. I can't say for sure but one of them seems like a spring brood and the other a summer one. Scroll down to see the two together in a photo.  

2026/7/12

2026/7/1

Queen Coralbead (Cocculus Trilobus) アオツヅラフジ（青葛藤）

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Queen coralbead (Cocculus trilobus) is native to east Asia and can be found across Japan, producing tiny cream flowers from July to August and fruits in autumn. The fruits are green at first but turn deep purple, which look like smaller blueberries but are toxic. 

2026/8/20

Asian bluetail (Ischnura asiatica) アジアイトトンボ（亜細亜糸蜻蛉）

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Something makes you always feel happy, doesn't it? One such thing for me is this dragonfly, the Asian bluetail (Ischnura asiatica). The bright blue tip of the tail is so beautiful. Asian bluetails are common in Japan but because of their thinness, you wouldn't be able to find them so easily.  

2026/8/20

Cherry Caterpillar (Phalera Flavescens) モンクロシャチホコ（紋黒鯱）

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I couldn't believe my eyes. These are so called cherry caterpillars, larvae of Phalera flavescens or a moth. They eat cherry leaves so voraciously from August to October that some trees cannot survive, which is understandable, because I saw several branches covered by the larvae😱!

But more surprisingly, they're edible and some even say they're yummy😱!!! When roasted over a fire, they are traditionally noted for a subtle, pleasant flavor and aroma reminiscent of cherry blossoms from feeding on cherry leaves. This leaves me with a question. Who tried them first? How courageous the person is for trying them!

I went there on the following day, finding all the branches with the larvae having been removed. I don't know whether to feel glad or sad...

2026/8/19

Sweet Viburnum (Viburnum Odoratissimum) サンゴジュ（珊瑚樹）

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Sweet viburnum (Viburnum odoratissimum) is native to Asia and can be found across Japan. The tree produces clusters of white flowers from June to July and red berries from July to October in Japan and because of the color of the berries, the tree's Japanese name is "sango ju," which translates into "coral tree." The berries are beautiful but toxic. 

2026/8/16

Asiatic Dayflower (Commelina Communis) 露草（ツユクサ）

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The Asiatic dayflower (Commelina Communis) is native to eastern Asia and can be found across Japan. It produces blue flowers from June to September in Japan, which look to me like a mantis head. The flower has been appreciated in Japan, mentioned in the Man'yōshū (i.e., the oldest extant collection of Japanese poetry in Classical Japanese), compiled sometime after 759 during the Nara period. 

The plant's Japanese name is "tsuyukusa," which translates into "dew plant," because of its brief lifespan, like morning dew.

2026/8/17

Red Morning Glory (Ipomoea Coccinea) マルバルコウソウ（丸葉縷紅草）

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Red morning glories (Ipomoea coccinea) are native to North America, brought into Japan in the Edo period (1603-1858) for ornamental purposes, and can now be found across Japan. Despite their beauty, however, red morning glories are designated as weeds of concern by the National Agricultural Research Organization of Japan.

2026/8/16

2026/8/16