The Safflower in Japan

I shared earlier about the 'micro season' in Japan known as Safflowers Flourish. The safflower (benibana 紅花)  is actually a pretty important flower in Japan, at least it was historically. As for more than a thousand years it held a cherished place in Japanese culture.

Though its bright petals appear delicate, they produce one of Japan's most historically valuable dyes. A vivid crimson that was once prized by aristocrats and later by Kyoto's textile artisans. From the Heian period onward, safflower dye was used to color silk kimono, ceremonial garments and even the elegant beni lip rouge worn by court ladies.

It was also used for other cosmetics and medicine too. The petals were pressed into past for lip color while seeds were used to produce oil. The oil was believed to promote circulation and warming the body. In addition, safflower tea was used as a type of folk medicine to warm the body and ease discomfort.

Because each flower yields only a tiny amount of pigment, the dye was considered precious. Certain regions became famous for their ability to cultivate the precious flower, including the Mogami area in Yamagata. Today, Yamagata still celebrates the bloom of safflowers. Moreover, safflowers remain a symbol of early summer vitality.