Currently in Japan, approximately 4.4 billion cut flowers and 760 million potted plants are distributed annually. Japan’s rich cut flower culture is supported by numerous producers both domestically and internationally. The variety of flowers available is also outstanding, with 40,000 registered varieties and 20,000 commercially available varieties delighting our eyes. Currently, 3,000 new varieties appear in Japan every year. This is more than double the number of new varieties introduced in the Netherlands, a major flower-producing country. Research on plants and flowers is also progressing in Japan, including studies on the fragrance of flowers and their therapeutic effects. Recently, Japan succeeded in determining the complete genome sequence of licorice. This plant is more than 30 times sweeter than sugar and is an essential ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine.
Just as humans are drawn to the beauty and fragrance of flowers, insects and birds are also attracted to them by their scent. Flowers with less fragrance attract these insects and birds with their vibrant colors and beauty. Both the vibrant colors and fragrances of flowers serve as tools for smooth reproduction. On the other hand, lighter-colored flowers tend to emit stronger fragrances. These fragrances can have beneficial effects on humans. It has been empirically shown that ingesting the fragrance components of mint and perilla can be effective against inflammation in organs such as the intestines. Studies have shown that tumors in mice that inhaled geraniol shrink. Geraniol is a fragrance component of roses. This illustrates how components harmful to insects can have beneficial effects on humans. The strategy of attracting insects with flower color is more effective during bright daytime hours. Conversely, when attracting moths and other insects for pollination at night, flowers tend to release specific fragrance components. This leads to the idea of using cut flowers as a business opportunity, leveraging both their attractive appearance and the beneficial effects of their fragrance.
There seem to be about five essential functions that a home should fulfill in daily life. First, it should be a place to relax. Second, it should function as a place to prepare and eat meals. Third, it should be a place for learning, not just for children but also for adults. Fourth, the home should be a fun place; a place for hobbies and leisure. Finally, with the recent adoption of remote work, the home is increasingly transforming into a workspace. The idea of utilizing the benefits of flowers comes into play in these five areas. For example, cut flowers can be effectively placed in the dining area. For those who want to suppress their appetite, blue flowers can be used to control it. For those with a poor appetite, orange flowers can be used to control it. Flowers that stimulate the sympathetic nervous system can also boost motivation and sustain activity. It might be an interesting experiment to devise ways to use flowers to support each of these five functions of the home.
