Info on Fukiran

[orchidsarefun]

about 1/2 way down...


The fascinating flower | Lifestyle | St. Albert Gazette

[MattWoelfsen]

Thanks for linking that article orchidsarefun. Good reading. Ironic that Neofinetia take up most of the information in the article--any mention of Neofinetia is always welcome!

[RandomGemini]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing that!

[kentaki]

The fact Neofinetia was even mentioned is interesting, but it is also repeating the old adage of "samurai" nonsense or fetish. Aren't these people supposed to disseminate accurate information if they truly love these orchids? Is this an infatuation that comes and goes after all? Or is this purely for money?

An example of inaccuracy:
"Lepper explained, that dates back to the 1600s to a Japanese shogun named Ienari Tokugawa."

Ienari was born in 1773.

I do not understand this infatuation, but then again, some people are obsessed with Ninjas and Geishas...

This phrase is very appropriate to describe the situation from an outsider's view: "for hobbyists who grow these strange plants."

Did I kill a thread again?

[Pilot]

Yep.


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[Paul Mc]

Kentaki, it's a cultural divide as I am sure you know. I admit I have my own misperceptions as well, but I truly hope we can all learn and grow from cross-cultural contact. It just takes time, patience and understanding.

[kentaki]

Originally Posted by Paul Mc

Kentaki, it's a cultural divide as I am sure you know.

I think it is a little different from a cultural divide. There is definitely a (language) barrier, but it seems more of psyche. Do non-Japanese people grow because they like how they look, not because of samurai myth, or any sense of superiority due to having luxurious items or belonging to an exclusive clan of who can appreciate "these strange plants" in a perverted way?

There are people like that in Japan, too. But it seems some non-Japanese growers followed the pursuit. To me as a Japanese, it seems weird and even a little creepy.

And I think if there is something you really love to the point that you would make a living by selling the object of affection, you should be at least able to provide accurate information such as names and historical background. But that is just my 2 cents.

[orchidsarefun]

the person quoted in the online article was the publicist. I wouldn't think that she is an expert, though even she could have been misquoted !

The grower has an interesting article on the history
Article_001

[kentaki]

Originally Posted by orchidsarefun

the person quoted in the online article was the publicist. I wouldn't think that she is an expert, though even she could have been misquoted !

I see that, but obviously, she probably didn't do research on her own. Someone must have fed her wrong information. This is a great example how wrong information spreads out. And the info. seemed to have come from the "expert" in this case.

Originally Posted by orchidsarefun

The grower has an interesting article on the history
Article_001

Some of the info is not quite accurate. An example:
"Collectors were slowly able to find plants with different coloured flowers, variegation in the leaves, or very different leaf shapes and textures."

Flower color was not a characteristic Neofinetia growers cared much. In fact, many growers were simply cutting of inflorescences although growers were aware of differently colored flowers. It started to change when pink flowered cultivars became popular.

You can also catch other things such as "2300 distinct varieties" (cultivars?) or "Japan’s Edo Era from 1603 to 1868" (1603 to 1867), "For the last 400 years, the Japanese have been collecting Neofinetia falcata that exhibit unique traits that are visibly different from fūran" (evidence simply does not exist to support this claim), "there is evidence of the appreciation of fūkiran before the Edo Era" (Fûran maybe but Fûkiran??? BTW, the oldest record on Neofinetia is supposedly in 1712. See my old post). I am not going to point out all.

Another thing I noticed about the news paper article. A hype: "Perhaps for that reason, it’s unclear whether the rarest Japanese orchids will be on display this weekend."
I think it is so bad and it is flat out laughable. "OMG, I gotta see the rare Japanese orchids!!!"

I also checked the prices, and I think I know the source of his supplies. $2 terracotta pots are sold for $20, and $5 black raku pots for $30. And these prices I know are retail prices, so it may be even cheaper for a wholesaler. So who is really perpetuating this luxury orchid myth? Do Americans (or Canadians for the matter) not deserve something better? Would you rather be taken advantage because of scarce or even wrong information? I think Neofinetia growers have a right to get upset about the current situation.

[AnonYMouse]

There are Anglophiles, francophiles, so there is Japanophiles. I know there are Japanese who are American fanboys/girls.

Every 'centric person will say there are inaccuracies-even ignorance, so what?

If you're not going to educate nicely, you are part of the problem.