Ornament-Morning Glory

Feel the Coolness, the Beginning of Perseverance.

People in Edo-era Tokyo were all captivated by morning glories. Introduced from China during the Nara period, they became popular for ornamental purposes during the Edo period.

To create unique morning glory varieties with diverse flower and leaf colours, shapes, and patterns, everyone enthusiastically engaged in breeding efforts. The result was an astonishing number of thousands of different varieties.

Specialized books showcasing the various blooming patterns of morning glories were published, and competitions were held to showcase their uniqueness.

Although the number of varieties has decreased in modern times, the dedication of our predecessors who nurtured and passed down these flowers remains unchanged.

Upon closer inspection, you can observe differences in the expressions of individual petals, the growth patterns of leaves, and the height of the plants. While seeking these subtle variations, this summer, why not try to spot morning glories blooming throughout the city?

Japan’s kogei. Teaching us how to live, how to be.