Spring flowers in Japan: crimson clover

Crimson clover is native to Europe, but I am from Europe and I'd never seen this flower until I came to Japan! I am totally mesmerized by it though and I love to see it flowering each year in spring. In Saitama Prefecture, where I live, you can see fields of crimson clover in rural areas, at this time of year. Typically it blooms the first two weeks in May, but like all flowers (except for cherry blossoms) this year, it was early to bloom. 

Crimson clover has a really cool name in Japanese: strawberry candle flowers. Named thus because of the appearance, shape and color. They certainly do look like strawberries growing upside down from a distance. They are a species of clover, as the English name suggests, and as such are a herb. I don't know if you can eat them though. They are used in Japan though to help crop rotations as they fix nitrogen in the soil. They also suppress weeds.

Have you seen crimson clover in your neighborhood? Had you seen them before you came to Japan? Do you know if they are edible or used for medicinal purposes?