Ardisia Crenata (Coral Berry) 万両（マンリョウ）

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

These are fruits of Ardisia crenata or more commonly known as coral berry at Atago Jinja shrine, Tokyo. The berries can be seen in many places in Tokyo now but (I think) these ones are bigger than usual. 

The plant is called "10,000 ryo" in Japanese. The term "ryo" is a unit of weight or currency used by Japan and several other Asian countries, and based on the value of rice, one ryo is worth about 1,500 dollars.

Japan has not only manryo or 10,000 ryo, but also 1,000 ryo (senryo), 100 ryo (hyakuryo), and 10 ryo (juryo).

Ardisia crenata 万両

Ardisia Crenata (Christmas Berry) 万両（マンリョウ）

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

These are the berries of ardisia crenata or more commonly known as Christmas berry at Atago Jinja shrine in Tokyo. Last December I found beautiful white coral berry (i.e., ardisia crenata f. leucocarpa) in my neighborhood. So this year, I really want to find YELLOW berry ardisia crenata (i.e., ardisia crenata f. xanthocarpa)😊!

Ardisia crenata 万両

Christmas berry マンリョウ

Ardisia Crenata F. Leucocarpa (White Coral Berry) 白実の万両（シロミノマンリョウ）

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

These are the fruits of ardisia crenata f. leucocarpa or more commonly known as white coral berry. 

I found them bright green in early August (4th photo), and I watched them for the following four months turning from green to creamy white believing that ultimately they would turn red until a few days ago when I learned that some coral berries produce white berries!!😂😆 

Ardisia crenata f. leucocarpa on December 26　白実の万両（12月26日）

White coral berry on December 26　シロミノマンリョウ（12月26日）

Late November 11月下旬

Early August 8月上旬

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白実の万両（シロミノマンリョウ）です。

8月に緑の実を見つけてそれから4カ月間ずっと、いつか赤くなるんだと信じて見続けました。先日、ネットで白い実を付ける万両があるって知るまでは！😂😆

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Ardisia Crenata (Christmas Berry) 万両（マンリョウ）

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

When people in Japan talk about ardisia crenata, they usually talk about the fruit. An ardisia crenata tree with glossy red fruits is often used in tea ceremonies and as decorations for New Year days. So, I didn't know that the tree has such beautiful tiny white buds and flowers or that it has another name "Christmas berry." Ardisia crenata is perfect for not only New Year but Christmas🎍🎄!

Christmas berries are called "Manryo" in Japanese, meaning "ten thousand ryo" or a lot of money. "Ryo" is "Tael," a unit of weight and currency in Japan and other Asian countries in the early modern period. 

Maybe I should buy a Christmas berry tree for Christmas and New Year, and to increase my luck with money😁! 

Ardisia crenata 万両

If You Wanna Be Rich.... 十両、百両、千両、万両ほしい？

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

What do you think this red thing is?

This brings you wealth!

This is a red fruit of Christmas berry (ardisia crenata or "manryo" in Japanese) I saw in the peony garden within the Ueno Park. "Man" of manryo means 10,000 and "ryo" a unit of weight or currency which was used by Japan and several other Asian countries. According to Bank of Japan, based on the value of rice, one ryo valued 900 dollars in the 17th century, 450 dollars in 18th and early 19th century, and 60 dollars in late 19th century.

Manryo (10,000 ryo; 万両) or Christmas berry

The thing is that Japan has not only 10,000 ryo, but also 1,000 ryo (senryo), 100 ryo (hyakuryo) and 10 ryo (juryo).

Senryo (1,000 ryo; 千両) or sarcandra glabra or nine-knotted flower

Hyakuryo (100 ryo; 百両) or ardisia crispa

Juryo (10 ryo; 十両) or ardisia japonica or marlberry

Honestly, I can't tell the differences.... Can you? These trees are all said to bring wealth.

上野ぼたん苑で見つけた、万両、千両、百両、十両です。牡丹の陰にひっそりと寄せ植えされていました。

万両と千両は知っていましたが、百両と十両もあったんですね。知りませんでした。しかも万両って Christmas berry て言うんですね。万両とクリスマスベリー、イメージが全然違います。でも確かに緑と赤、クリスマスの色です！