Irises in Early Summer

In Itako, a riverside district of the Tone River, narrow waterways, or canals, stretch around the city. In former days, the waterways served the function of roads and the banks of the waterways were connected by a number of tiny bridges. Some of the bridges still remain today.

It was fun to sail along the riverside where irises, hydrangeas, and pink ice plants were blooming on the banks.

The small boat we got on board looked pretty shabby and it was quite unlike the gorgeous gondolas in Venice. In our boat, neither canzoni nor Japanese folk songs were sung by the oarsman. Instead, we were handed out senbeis(rice cookies). They were fragrant and delicious. With a breeze blowing and flowers smiling at us, our boat made its way slowly along the waterway and passed under a series of little wooden bridges.

Irises were in full bloom in Itako. The so-called "Japanese Iris" encompasses three varieties of irises: Hanashobu(Iris ensata), Kakitsubata(Iris laevigata), and Ayame(Iris sanguinea).

Japanese artists have drawn them for centuries and have loved Kakitsubata due to the association with the famous poem in the classic story, the Tale of Ise, which was written in the Heian period(794-1185/1192 AD). When I saw a community of irises flowering on the riverside, I felt like I was in the world of Ogata Korin.

Iris laevigata Ogata Korin (1658-1716) (a part) Nezu Museum,Tokyo

Irises, Watanabe Shikõ (1683-1755) Edo period (1615-1868)

The Cleveland Museum of Art

After the boating excursion, we happened to come across a bride on a boat. She was on her way to a wedding hall where her fiancee was waiting for her.

Accompanied by her parents, she looked happy and very beautiful in her bridal costume, a traditional Japanese white silk kimono. It was really lucky for us to come upon this type of wedding procession which has been distinctive of this district: Brides with their parents and relatives used to get on boats from their houses, sail the waterways and then have a wedding. I first suspected it was a photo shoot or a show, however, to our delight, she was a real bride!!!

In recent years, more Japanese women have wanted to have their weddings in a traditional Japanese style. The bride on the boat must have been one of them.

This small square can of cookies is a replica of Ogata Korin's box. After the cookies are gone, I'm going to use it as a sewing box.

Iris laevigata(Kakitsubata) click. You can see a photo.