October is the month of Kiku-mi (菊) - chrysanthemum flower viewing.
Gardens, temples, and shrines showcase chrysanthemum exhibitions across the nation. If you plan to visit Tokyo, these are the places you can enjoy Kiku-mi:
The chrysanthemum is the crest of the Japanese Imperial Family.
Why did the chrysanthemum become the Imperial crest? The Emperor Go-Toba, 82nd Emperor who ascended to the throne in 1185 and abdicated in 1198 in favor of his son, used it as a personal symbol of power. The flower is associated with longevity, nobility, and strength, making it a suitable representation of the imperial family. This tradition was formalized during the Meiji period (1868 – 1912).
Imperial Family Crest 16-Petal Chrysanthemum Flower
After the Kiku-mi, go to one of the Depachika (department store food courts) or supermarkets. You will find both fresh and dried edible chrysanthemum flowers and petals in purple or yellow colors.
We blanch them in hot water, drain them, and mix them in the salad or use them as a garnish. Edible chrysanthemum flowers aid liver health and have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Food is medicine.
I was born in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture.
This is a region once governed by the Maeda clan—the second-most powerful feudal lords after the Tokugawa during the Edo period (1600–1868). Under the prosperous Maeda domain, Kanazawa, flourished as a center of refined art and culture, earning its nickname ‘Little Kyoto.’
Among the city’s many elegant regional okashi (Japanese sweets), the 400-year-old Chitose from Morihachi Confectionery Company remains especially memorable.
Chitose translates to a thousand years.
This sweet consists of silky adzuki bean paste, lightly sweetened with rice syrup, wrapped in an exquisitely tender mochi sheet and dusted with fine powdered sugar. The sweets are traditionally paired in white and soft reddish-pink, colors that make them a favorite for celebratory occasions throughout the year.
Though Chitose has no direct connection to plum blossoms, its delicate appearance always reminded me of a white-and-red-pink ume flower. I dream of savoring Chitose while admiring the gentle beauty of blooming ume.
I have always loved my mother’s family crest, the kamon (家紋).
Hers is the Umebachi (梅鉢) crest, a design of five larger circles arranged in a pentagon around a smaller central circle, resembling a plum blossom viewed from above. Japan has more than 20,000 family crests and over 100 variations of plum-blossom design alone.
The history of the family crest dates back to the 8th through 12th centuries, when courtiers used designs drawn from nature on their ox carts and other belongings to distinguish themselves from others and show their power.
Next, in the Kamakura period (1185-1333), a period of Japan’s civil war, warriors adorned their kabuto helmets with highly stylized versions of their family crests to distinguish themselves from others and express their mighty power. When the Edo period (1600-1868) began, commoners were allowed to use family crests; at the time, surnames were not yet permitted. In 1875, all citizens were allowed to carry a surname, and the family crest became a symbol of all families.
Battle of SekigaharaCredit: Gifu History Museum
The Battle of Sekigahara, fought on October 21, 1600, marked a decisive turning point in Japanese history. The clash split the nation into Eastern and Western factions, and its outcome opened the path for Tokugawa Ieyasu to unify the country, leading to nearly three centuries of tightly managed peace. managed peace. In this scene, you find hundreds of crests representing the participating armies, each one symbolizing a clan that took part in the battle.
Daki-kashiwa: My father’s family crest
Many samurai families connected to the Maeda clan used the Umebachi crest. My mother often reminded me—many times over—that her great-grandfather had served the Maeda clan. I own several formal kimonos, each bearing a family crest prominently displayed at the center of the back. The crest on my kimonos, however, is not my mother’s but my father’s: Daki-kashiwa (抱き柏).
The oak leaf, kashiwa, has long been regarded as sacred. In ancient times, oak leaves were used as vessels for offerings to the gods. Because old oak leaves do not fall until new ones emerge, the kashiwa came to symbolize the continuity of the family line and, by extension, prosperity for future generations. For this reason, the oak-leaf motif has been favored by courtiers and warriors since antiquity.
Unfortunately, I foresee my Shimbo family line, including other Shimbo relatives, coming to an end when my sister eventually passes. There are no sons to carry on the name and inherit it. I am blessed to continue to use Daki-kashiwa as my business logo on my cards and website until the end.
Japanese craftsmanship permeates daily life through food production, culinary arts, food presentation, textiles, traditional gardens, architecture, and artworks.
Each year, Meiji Jingu 明治神宮, Tokyo's most popular shrine, draws 3 million visitors. We deliver the message, including a New Year’s resolution, to the gods and ancestors and ask for their protection for the year.
