April is always a whirlwind with the start of the new fiscal year in Japan. In the midst of all this busy energy, I found myself longing for a moment of quiet. From January through March, I had many bright flowers like yellow and pink. After enjoying those spring colors, I felt like choosing something a bit darker. This purple Lisianthus felt right for my current mood.
The vessel is a soba-tsuyu-ire, a small ceramic pitcher for noodle sauce. It is 11cm tall and has a grey-blue color. I placed it on a wooden pedestal stand. The wood makes the cool grey of the ceramic feel a bit warmer and more natural. Inside the pitcher, I used floral foam to secure the stems, allowing for a more deliberate placement. I paired the Lisianthus with some white flowers I found at the supermarket. Rather than their petals, it was the "kune-kune"—the twisted, rhythmic curves of their stems—that caught my eye. These dancing lines break the stillness and add a sense of movement to the arrangement.
I documented the styling in two different spots. One is by the window, where the soft, cloudy light gently touches the arrangement. The other is in front of the orange wallpaper, using a dark brown wooden chair as a base. This orange wall significantly changes the feel of the ambient light, casting a subtle, warmer glow over everything. Behind the chair, I placed a large basket filled with acacia branches. The rugged, rough texture of the basket provides a beautiful contrast to the simple, smooth lines of the ceramic pitcher.
In addition to the first arrangement, I tried a different version. I added some blue flowers to the purple Lisianthus, creating a deeper, more chic tone. For this version, I placed the arrangement on a wild-textured Akebi basket instead of the smooth wooden stand. Interestingly, the addition of blue seemed to resonate with the ruggedness of the basket in a way that felt balanced. It was a simple experiment in combining deeper colors with a raw, natural texture.
Lately, the flower sections in Japanese supermarkets have become much more interesting. It used to be mostly practical flowers for altars, but now I often find unique varieties with character. Even without going to a specialty florist, just looking through the supermarket selection has become a small joy in my daily life. Finding these "kune-kune" stems while picking up groceries felt like a quiet discovery.
I hope your space brings you a little extra joy today.
- mizu
