Spray Chrysanthemums (Spray Mums) & Imperial System スプレーマム（スプレー菊）と皇室制度

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

Almost all flowers are gone but these bright yellow ones. They're spray chrysanthemums or more commonly known as spray mums. 

Chrysanthemums are the symbol of Japanese imperial family, and as some of you may know, the former Princess Mako married her college sweetheart Kei Komuro last week despite challenges, such as her parents' (i.e., Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko)'s opposition and the criticism about Komuro's handling of his mother's financial problem. I found their marriage interesting because it's exposed a couple of issues for the family; can or do the members of the imperial family have human rights; and should Japan keep maintaining the imperial system? 

The first question is relatively easy to answer. The imperial family members can and do have such rights. They're human beings and the fact that Mako was born into the imperial family should have nothing to do with her right to marry someone she loves and any other human rights. The thing is, however, that some Japanese are unaware that obstructing their marriage is a human right violation. Even some say that Mako has no right to marry freely because she's a member of the imperial family, and her dependence on taxpayers' money obligates her to seek some kind of approval or support from the public for her marriage.  

And that's what makes the second question far more important. If Japanese people (not all but many) believe that way, what is Japan going to do? Is the country going to maintain the imperial system, which deprives the family members of the right to live the lives they choose?

Japan has started discussing again how the imperial system should be, e.g., whether to allow women to succeed to the throne or expand the family to include the former imperial branches, but that's not the point. Japan now should discuss whether to keep this inhumane system. And my proposal is to abolish the imperial system not now, but after the members have disappeared through attrition.

Chrysanthemums are native to East Asia, but have been cultivated in the U.S. to produce multiple flowers on a stem, then coming back to Japan as spray mums. Things change, and the imperial system is just one such thing.       

Spray chrysanthemums スプレーマム

Hasty Camellia Sasanqua せっかちな山茶花

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

The camellia season has begun! This is the first camellia sasanqua flower I saw this morning and was the only flower in bloom surrounded by many buds and seeds. If it were late November, I'd write about its beautiful pale pink color, but because now it's still October, I couldn't help but smile about its hastiness, which is also a characteristic of mine😆 

10/29 Camellia sasanqua 山茶花

Eriocapitella Hupehensis (Japanese Anemone) 秋明菊（シュウメイギク）

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

These are eriocapitella hupehensis or more commonly known as Japanese anemone. The yellow/green flower centers surrounded by the white petals emerged from the darkness before dawn. 

On workdays I get up at around 4:30 a.m. This was good in summer but now is too early for a morning walk and photographing. The sunrise time in Tokyo is currently at around 5:50 a.m. 

Originally the flower was pink and the white one is a crossbreed. Japanese anemone signifies patience, decrease of love, slight (romantic) feelings, and being sensitive. 

Eriocapitella hupehensis 秋明菊

Camellia Japonica/Sasanqua Seeds Look Like Chocolates😋 椿と山茶花の種はチョコみたい😋

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

These are camellia japonica and camellia sasanqua seeds. In August, I enjoyed glossy red camellia japonica fruits and hairy camellia sasanqua fruits, and at that time I didn't expect these fruits to crack, showing such beautiful seeds like dark chocolate (i.e., camellia JAPONICA) and macadamia nut chocolate (camellia SASANQUA)😋!  

Camellia seeds can produce oil (i.e., tea seed oil) used for skin and hair in Japan. The oil has been used for so long that The Shoku Nihongi, i.e., an imperially-commissioned Japanese history text, says that Japan gave the oil to an ambassador from Balhae, a multi-ethnic kingdom in Manchuria, the Korean Peninsula and the Russian Far East, in 777. Wow!

Camellia japonica and sasanqua are both the prefectural/city/town flower of many prefectures and municipalities in Japan, and camellia japonica is surprisingly the Alabama state flower😲

Camellia JAPONICA seed looks like dark chocolate 椿の種はダークチョコ

Camellia SASANQUA seed is like macadamia nut chocolate 山茶花の種はマカダミアチョコ？

Polyporaceae 猿の腰掛（サルノコシカケ）

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

This looks like a pancake, but it's not. This is polyporaceae on a cherry tree, a mushroom called "a stool for monkeys🐒" in Japan.  

I read about birch polypore on @zaungruen's Instagram post several days ago, in which Zaungruen said that he/she has birch polypore tea for colds. As a person taking Chinese herbal medicine to deal with dyspepsia (which is very effective for me), I'm very interested in polyporaceae's efficacy, and learned that in Japan, the mushroom is said to lower blood pressure and boost the immune system, while it's also said to decay and even kill trees by absorbing nutrients from them! A person can be good and bad at the same time. A mushroom can also be good and bad at the same time.          

Polyporaceae 猿の腰掛

Netsuke in Shape of Jurojin and Ofuku 寿老阿福牙彫根付

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Were they married? Did they have a child? 

This 3 cm tall sculpture is a 'netsuke depicting the Lucky Gods Jurojin and Ofuku', which is on display at the Tokyo National Museum. Carved from ivory by Chounsai Hidechika, the figures look just like a happy family—even though I've never heard of them being married.

Tricyrtis - Crossbreed of Japanese and Taiwanese Ones? 杜鵑草 - 日本と台湾のハーフ？

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Are they Japanese or Taiwanese? That is the question. My answer is that they're a hybrid of Tricyrtis hirta (commonly known as Japanese toad lilies) and Tricyrtis formosana (Taiwanese toad lilies).

Netsuke in Shape of a Noh Performer with a Hannya Mask 般若牙彫根付

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

How many will I kill tonight? Three or four?" He looks like he is saying this, doesn't he? This 3-centimeter-tall sculpture is a netsuke of a Noh performer wearing a Hannya mask, currently on display at the Tokyo National Museum. It is carved from ivory.

Netsuke in Shape of a Heart-Polishing Figure 心磨牙彫根付

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

What do you think they're doing? Are they wiping the floor with a cloth? NOOOO! They're polishing their HEARTS! This is a 3 cm tall sculpture, or "netsuke in the shape of a heart-polishing figure," on display at the Tokyo National Museum. It's carved from ivory by Tomochika. 

Netsuke in Shape of Lucky God Daikoku 大黒牙彫根付

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

This 3 cm sculpture is a netsuke in the shape of the Lucky God Daikoku on display at the Tokyo National Museum. It's carved from ivory by an artist whose name I can't read, though the signature implies he carved it at 73 years old. It is amazing how someone with a lifetime of practice can create something this cute and joyful! I love his smile and his little dance.

Netsuke in Shape of Exorcism 追儺牙彫根付

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Have you ever seen a Japanese exorcism? If not, take a look at this 3 cm tall sculpture. This is a Netsuke depicting an exorcism, currently on display at the Tokyo National Museum. It was carved from ivory by Ikkosai.

Japan used to perform exorcisms in the imperial household on New Year's Eve, as well as in other locations during Setsubun—the day before the beginning of spring in the traditional calendar. While the imperial household ritual is no longer practiced, the tradition lives on through mamemaki (soybean throwing) on Setsubun. During this ritual, people throw roasted soybeans out the front door or at a family member wearing an oni (demon) mask while chanting, "Devils out! Fortune in!"

Amphicarpaea (Hogpeanut) 藪豆（ヤブマメ）

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

This is amphicarpaea or more commonly known as hogpeanut. The white and purple flowers among the green leaves are so refreshing. The plant grows across Japan, but I didn't know about the plant or notice the flowers until today. The hedge had a grass cut yesterday (see the last photo), and that must have exposed these tiny flowers hiding among or under other plants. I'm happy to be able to see them but they may be saying "Leave us alone!!"  

Amphicarpaea 藪豆

Hogpeanut ヤブマメ

Netsuke "Yagyo-san (Ogre)" 根付「夜行さん」

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

This 3 cm tall boxwood netsuke, titled 'Yagyo-san,' is housed at the Tokyo National Museum. It was crafted by Yoji Yamada using boxwood, tagua nut, and coral.

Yagyō-san is a demon (or ogre) in Japanese folklore. He wanders at night on the back of a headless horse during specific times of the year—such as New Year's Eve and the day before spring begins in the traditional Japanese calendar—and throws anyone who happens to see him. But to me, he just looks like a primitive man with a long beard! And he's so cute!