Abelia x 'Edward Goucher' and Abelia x Grandiflora ‘Confetti’ 花衝羽根空木（アベリア）

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They are both abelia. The pink one is abelia x 'Edward Goucher' or more commonly known as pink abelia and the white one is abelia x grandiflora ‘Confetti’ or abelia Confetti. 

The flowers have been in bloom for the last couple of months, but they're in full bloom now in my neighborhood with the white and pink blossoms side by side (3rd photo).

Abelia x 'Edward Goucher' アベリア

Acrida Cinerea (Chinese Grasshopper) 精霊蝗虫（ショウリョウバッタ）

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Can you see that? If not, take a look at the second photo. This is acrida cinerea or more commonly known as Chinese grasshopper. It landed on a leaf just in front of me when I was taking photos of skunk vines. The green colors of the grasshopper and the leaves are so beautiful!! 

The grasshopper has several Japanese names, including "Heaven and Earth grasshopper" because of the big size difference between the males and females like "Heaven and Earth." Acrida cinerea males are typically 4 to 5 cm (1.6 to 2.0 inch) long while the females are 7 to 8 cm (2.8 to 3.1 inch).

Acrida cinerea 精霊蝗虫

Ilex Integra (Elegance Female Holly) モチノキ

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These are the fruits of ilex integra or elegance female holly. They're 1 cm in diameter, and some are red while others still green for a reason.  

The tree has a natural enemy, i.e., a wasp "macrodasyceras hirsutum Kamijo." The baby wasps lay eggs within ilex integra seeds in summer, and in autumn, the wasp larvae stop the fruit changing from green to red (wow!) to prevent the red ripe fruits from being eaten by birds, which usually eat red fruits, spreading the seeds around and helping the plants' reproduction.

These green fruits may be naturally green or stopped by the larvae from turning red, but either way, ilex integra and the wasp both are fighting for their survival.  

Ilex integra モチノキ

Zephyranthes Candida (Autumn Zephyrlily) 玉簾（タマスダレ）

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These are Zephyranthes candida, also known as autumn zephyrlilies. Their six white petals and yellow stamens are so pretty, but the Star of Bethlehem and the zephyrlily look and act a lot alike. Both are toxic, and the zephyrlily's leaves and bulbs contain potentially lethal poisons 😱. The autumn zephyr lily stands for pure love and anticipation.

2021/8/26

Hibiscus ハイビスカス

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A variety of hibiscuses have been blooming across Japan, and I love these bright red ones because they remind me of my childhood in the Kagoshima prefecture where the beautiful nature, i.e., not only many flowers and trees but also bugs and even snakes, laid out the foundation for my later interest in writing about flowers and bugs on this blog.

Kagoshima is the most southern prefecture in mainland Japan. When I first arrived there, such bright red hibiscuses and sashimi of kibinago or silver-stripe round herring welcomed me. I was seven or eight years old, worrying about what would happen to me. That was the first school transfer for me, and I didn't know that was just the first of six transfers of elementary and junior high schools succeeding after that...   

I haven't been there since then, but red hibiscuses always remind me of Kagoshima, making me smile...  

Hibiscus ハイビスカス

Raphiolepis Indica Var. Umbellata F. Integerrima (Round-Leaf Yeddo Hawthorn) 丸葉車輪梅（マルバシャリンバイ）

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These are the fruits of raphiolepis indica var. umbellata f. integerrima (too long!) or more commonly known as round-leaf Yeddo hawthorn. I wasn't that interested in the flowers, but these fruits are so round and so cute, and their green and purple color is so beautiful! I love them. 

The fruits seem edible but according to a blog post, they're edible but not tasty, and the idea of eating them made me feel gross because these lovely fruits reminded me of Medama Oyaji (literally meaning "eyeball father"), i.e., one of the main characters of "GeGeGe no Kitaro." "GeGeGe no Kitaro" is a Japanese manga series about monsters, created in 1960 by Shigeru Mizuki and enjoyed by Japanese people for more than a half century. Medama Oyaji is a lovely father helping his son Kitaro with his vast knowledge, and is my favorite character of the series.    

Raphiolepis indica var. umbellata f. integerrima 丸葉車輪梅

Protaetia Orientalis Submarumorea 白点花潜（シロテンハナムグリ）

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I first thought a scarab was coming from behind the lantana leaves, but the color was different. It was brown with white spots on its back. I googled and learned that it was a protaetia orientalis submarumorea.

Protaetia orientalis submarumorea are flower chafers, and the Japanese name is shiroten hanamuguri, meaning "flower chafer with white spots." Unlike green June beetles, which may cause damage to crops, flower chafers are beneficial insects😊

Protaetia orientalis submarumorea 白点花潜

Flower chafer シロテンハナムグリ

Green Female Conifer Cone (Pinecone) 雌の緑松笠（松ぼっくり）

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They're male and female conifer cones or pine cones. The green ones are female while the brown ones in the 2nd photo are male. I've seen many pine cones, but they were all brown, and I've never thought about their sex. The matcha green female pine cones are so beautiful!

Pine has male and female trees, and they're mostly monoecious. Naturally, this pine tree should have male and female pine cones on the same tree and voila! I've found bigger female pine cones and smaller male ones side by side!!

Chocolate vine, which I wrote about yesterday, is also monoecious, and has male and female flowers on the same vine. And you know what? A chocolate vine female flower is also bigger than the male one😁!!     

Female conifer cone 雌の松ぼっくり

Buds and Flowers of Akebia Quinata (Chocolate Vine) 木通（アケビ）の花

Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。

These 1 to 2 cm purple buds (1st photo) are akebia quinata or commonly chocolate vine, or more specifically a mass of the male flower buds (smaller, in the front) and a female flower bud (bigger, in the back) of akebia quinata on the same vine. Their beautiful mauve color and cute shape has attracted me since I saw them for the first time last March. 

At that time, however, I mistook them for the fruits of euonymus hamiltonianus or hamilton's spindletree, so in March, I didn't realize I was looking at akebia quinata having male (smaller) and female (bigger) flowers on the same vine (2nd photo). Now with that knowledge, I can enjoy more of these pretty buds and flowers. The more knowledge we've got, the more understanding we have!  

The fruits of chocolate vine are said to be tasty. I said "said to be" because I've never eaten them or seen them sold at supermarkets, just remembering my granddad or dad talking about them a long time ago. Now I've found a chocolate vine growing in my neighborhood, it's time for me to try the fruit!😋  

2021/8 Akebia quinata - Male buds (smaller, front) and a female bud (bigger, back)
2021/8 木通の蕾 - 手前が雄花で後ろが雌花

2021/3 - Male buds on the left and a female flower side by side 雄の蕾（左）と雌花

2021/3 Female flowers 木通の雌花

Fruit of Cornus Kousa (Kousa Dogwood) 山法師（ヤマボウシ）の実

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The 1st and 2nd photos are of Cornus kousa or more commonly kousa dogwood fruits. Their skin is bumpy, but the fruit itself is tiny and cute. And the 3rd to 6th photos are of the flowers I took in early May.   

I've belatedly shared these flower photos taken in May for a reason. When taking these flower pictures, I assumed that Cornus kousa and Cornus florida were the same because they were flowering almost at the same time and looked alike. So, I wrote about only Cornus florida flowers and not about Cornus kousa.

Unlike the flowers, however, the fruits of Cornus kousa and Cornus florida are completely different in terms of not only the shape but also edibility. Cornus kousa fruits can be eaten raw or used to make jam or liquor but Cornus florida fruits aren't edible. I look forward to seeing Cornus kousa fruits ripen to red😊!! 

Cornus kousa fruit 山法師の実

Netsuke "Ladybird on Sweet Pepper" 根付「ピーマンにてんとう虫」

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This 4 cm ivory sculpture is the netsuke titled 'Ladybird on sweet pepper' at the Tokyo National Museum. It was carved by Seiho Azuma. A netsuke is a small carved ornament, especially of ivory or wood, worn as part of Japanese traditional dress as a toggle by which an article may be attached to the sash of a kimono (Source: Lexico).

This sweet pepper netsuke is white, but imagine a green pepper with a red, black-spotted ladybug on its back! It would be so colorful and beautiful. 🌶🐞 If you love netsuke, check out  this list to discover over 40 amazing pieces!

"Ladybird on sweet pepper," Seiho Azuma, ivory 「ピーマンにてんとう虫」東声方 象牙

Morning Glories Need 9 Hours of Sleep😉 アサガオは9時間睡眠😉

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These pink and purple ipomoea nil or Japanese morning glories are so beautiful. I found them on August 12. 

August 12 is five days after the Liqiu or the beginning of autumn in the Chinese calendar. The Liqiu in Japan this year was August 7, but it's still hot and many morning glories, i.e., the symbol of summer together with sunflowers in Japan, are still in bloom.

People believe that morning glory flowers open in the morning, but that's not true. They open in the morning in summer, but as the days get shorter, they open in the middle of the night because they wake up nine hours after it gets dark. Morning glory goes to sleep as it gets dark and wakes up after nine hours of sleep. They live healthy lives!😉 

2021/8/12

Netsuke "Fukurokuju" (Shoko Nishino) 根付「福禄寿（西野昇己）」

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This 3 cm tall sculpture is a netsuke of "Fukurokuju," currently on display at the Tokyo National Museum this March. It was carved from wood by Shoko Nishino.

Fukurokuju, one of Japan's Seven Lucky Gods, is the deity of wisdom, luck, longevity, wealth, and happiness. He is instantly recognizable by his elongated head, which is almost as large as his entire body. Fukurokuju is so popular that he has fascinated not only Shoko Nishino but many other netsuke carvers. Check out the posts below to compare different carvings of him!

• Fukurokuju by Ryushi Komada
• Ancestor Fukurokuju by Michael Birch
• Fukurokuju by Seiho Azuma

Another interesting thing is that Shoko Nishino's Fukurokuju (pictured above) and the third listed Fukurokuju by Seiho Azuma look very alike for a reason: the latter is a copy of the former. We can learn a lot through imitation, and Seiho Azuma must have learned something by copying Shoko Nishino's work.

 

A netsuke is a small carved ornament, especially of ivory or wood, worn as part of Japanese traditional dress as a toggle by which an article may be attached to the sash of a kimono (Source: Lexico). If you love netsuke, check out this list to see more than 40 pieces!

"Fukurokuju" by Shoko Nishino, ivory 「福禄寿」西野昇己作 象牙

Netsuke "Octopus Trap" 蛸壺牙彫根付

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This 4 cm sculpture is a netsuke shaped like an octopus trap, shown at the Tokyo National Museum this past March. Carved from ivory by Mitsuhiro in the 19th century, the octopus's funny face is so charming.🐙

An octopus trap is used for octopus fishing. Interestingly, the Japanese term 'tako beya' (literally 'octopus room') refers to historical forced labor camps, named because the workers were trapped just like octopuses.

'Tako beya' or 'octopus room,' refers to a harsh work system that began during the Meiji period (1868–1912), under which laborers were forced to work on construction sites or in coal mines with inadequate meals. They slept in accommodation huts called 'tako beya' because workers could not escape from the labor camps, much like an octopus trapped in a pot. While forced labor and such camps are now banned by the Labor Standards Act, Japan faces a modern counterpart: "black companies." These are firms that hire many contract workers or part-timers and force them to work heavy unpaid overtime through threats and harassment.

Aside from its complicated history and modern socio-economic issues, Japan really loves octopus—not just as a sushi topping, but as a theme in art, like this netsuke.

If you love netsuke, check out this post to see more than 40 pieces! 

 

"Octopus trap," Mitsuhiro, ivory「蛸壺牙彫根付」光弘 象牙

Netsuke "Silk Ball" 根付「手鞠」

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This colorful, 3 cm Silk Ball netsuke was crafted from boxwood by artist Kinuyo Hariya using traditional maki-e lacquer painting. It was on display at the Tokyo National Museum this past March.

Netsuke is a small carved ornament, especially of ivory or wood, worn as part of Japanese traditional dress as a toggle by which an article may be attached to the sash of a kimono (Source: Lexico), and maki-e is a Japanese form of (especially gold or silver) lacquer or lacquerware (Source: Lexico). I've seen many netsuke sculptures, and boxes, combs, and natsume (i.e., green tea powder containers used in tea ceremonies) with maki-e painting, but I've never seen netsuke decorated with such colorful maki-e painting.

'Silk ball,' or temari (meaning 'hand ball') in Japanese, are a traditional craft that originated in China and was introduced to Japan around the 7th century. While this specific temari netsuke is only 3 cm, typical temari are 10–15 cm in diameter. Made with intricate silk embroidery, they are highly valued today as beautiful room decorations.

If you love netsuke, click here to see more than 40 items! 

"Silk Ball," Kinuyo Hariya, boxwood and maki-e「手毬」針谷絹代 黄楊＆蒔絵 

Netsuke "Penguin Mother and Baby" 根付「ペンギン」

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This 4 cm sculpture is a netsuke titled 'Penguin Mother and Young,' on show at the Tokyo National Museum this March. It was carved from ivory by Sawako Yorikane. A netsuke is a small carved ornament—traditionally made of ivory or wood—worn with Japanese traditional dress as a toggle to hang items from a kimono sash (Source: Lexico).

It's been so hot and humid recently in Japan. The temperature for the last couple of days has been over 35°C (95°F) in Tokyo. And that's just the air temperature. With humidity at 70%, the apparent temperature is over 40°C (104°F), which sometimes makes me feel suffocated while walking, even in the early morning.

That's why I've chosen this netsuke today. Does it make you feel cool? Or does the mother and baby netsuke make you feel warm? 😊 If you love netsuke, check out 'A List of Netsuke' to see 40 beautiful pieces!

"Penguin Mother and Young," Sawako Yorikane, ivory「ペンギン」寄金佐和子 象牙

Pentatomoidea (Stink Bug) 亀虫（カメムシ）

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I always respect someone never giving up, hanging in there, so why not this tiny 1 cm pentatomoidea I found while walking early morning?   

In Japanese, pentatomoidea or more commonly stink bug is called "tortoise bug" for its similar body shape to tortoise's, but more known for its terrible smell, meaning this bug is recognized globally as being "stinky"😂 Someone or something is cute as long as you social distance.     

Pentatomoidea 亀虫