May 26th- 30th, 2026 is Summer – SHOMAN (Lesser ripening) -23rd KOU “BENIBANA (safflowers) bloom”.
BENIBANA cultivation and industry in SHINSHU were not particularly thriving, but because it was an expensive dye material and even small quantities could be profitable, the MATSUSHIRO domain encouraged its cultivation. Also, because the ZENKOJI Plain was located at a key point on the HOKKOKU KAIDO, a route used to transport safflower from the MOGAMI region (YAMAGAT Prefecture), the largest BENIBANA producing area, to KYOTO, it is said that there were BENIBANA merchants in the area around the ZENKOJI Temple.
I sowed the seeds again this year. These were saved from flowers that bloomed last year. They’re growing incredibly well compared to last year, although we have to wait to see the flowers a bit. Last year’s flowers were also grown from seeds from the year before, so they are grandchildren BENIBANA. As I sowed them directly in the field, they might have remembered the environment their parents and grand-parents grew, and are growing exceptionally well✌
