the Chrysanthemum Exhibition

Yellow sand has blown to western Japan today.
Many policemen are on guard in the town center of Yokohama due to APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation).

 Chrysanthemum flower exhibitions are being held in various regions.

Shinjuku Gyoen Kikka-ten (Chrysanthemum Exhibition) is being held at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in Tokyo between 9 am and 4 pm from November 1st to 15th. The admission fee is 200 yen.

 In the Edo Period, it was said that chrysanthemum flowers were at their peak four or five days after Rittou(the first day of winter, November 7th this year) and people enjoyed seeing those flowers in the gardening districts.


chrysanthemum figure(菊人形,kiku-ningyo）wears a costume made of chrysanthemum flowers or leaves. An old book says that chrysanthemum works like topiary were very popular in Edo Period.

My father made an attempt on triple cordon of chrysanthemums, but it was difficult to grow three flowers in a balanced fashion. So he gave up soon.

菊袋　デザイン/芝田美恵子
"drawstring　pouch in the shape of chrysanthemum" designed by Mieko Shibata

Shigeyoshi Inoue ed.,Wa-no-Nunoasobi-chirimenzaiku,(Tokyo:ONdori Sha,2003),P.9
井上重義監修,和の布遊びちりめん細工,雄鶏社,2003,P.9

Jogewari-kikuhishi(上下割り菊菱)

Kamuro-giku(禿菊)

下中菜穂,「切り紙　もんきり遊び」,株式会社宝島社,2007年,P.9,20
Nabo Shimonaka, Kirigami Monkiri-asobi,(Tokyo:TAKARAJIMASHA,Inc.,2007),P.9,20