A Riot of Flowers: "The Yokohama Tree and Plant Story" - Recalling the Journey of Pioneers Who Connected the World with Flowers and Greenery.

In 1891 (Meiji 24), a group of accomplished individuals, all engaged in cutting-edge horticulture and nursery businesses, possessing extensive knowledge of international affairs and deep expertise in plant cultivation and management, gathered in Yokohama, the heartland of modernization. They established "Yokohama Ueki Shokai Co., Ltd. (Yokohama Nursery Co., Ltd.)" with the aim of seizing control of the overseas trade (import and export) of horticultural plants, which had previously been monopolized by foreign residents.

From the mid-Meiji era, when modernization was still in full swing, Yokohama Ueki served as a bridge between Japan and the world of flowers and greenery, disseminating the charm of Japanese and traditional horticultural and garden culture to the world. Simultaneously, they introduced the latest varieties of horticultural seeds and seedlings from around the globe, laying the foundation for Western-style horticulture. This book chronicles the glorious and arduous journey of Yokohama Ueki and the passionate people who supported them.

Behind their success lie numerous anecdotes related to the dawn of modern Japanese horticulture.

Published to commemorate the 130th anniversary of the founding of Yokohama Ueki Co., Ltd.

■Table of Contents Excerpt Act One: Stories from the Meiji Period Item 01. The Biography of "Founder, Uhei Suzuki" Item 02. The extraordinary fate of "Kenzo Ikeda," the representative of the founding members of Yokohama Ueki and the drafter of the articles of incorporation, and his son, "Tomochika Ikeda," a brilliant horticulturalist who died young and selected the varieties of American peaches that Yokohama Ueki imported. Item 03. The glorious trajectory of the people who supported the founding of Yokohama Ueki and its heyday in the Meiji and Taisho periods, as seen in the "Memorial Album for Deceased Executives and Employees," and more.

Act Two: Stories from the Taisho Period Item 33. "Mikasaen," which opened in Tsurumi, Yokohama in 1919 and sold natural beauty and irises, was a reincarnation of the closed "Kamata Iris Garden." The Fusano Pond within the park was the venue for the swimming qualifying rounds of the Antwerp Olympics (1920). Item 34. From the late Meiji period, in order to facilitate and monopolize the import of high-quality horticultural plants and materials from overseas, the company became the Japanese agent for major related companies, including the two major seed and seedling dealers, Sutton (UK) and Vilmorin (France). Based on the knowledge gained through their work at Yokohama Ueki, Haruo Otsuka and Iwajiro Mizuta cultivated their areas of expertise and made a name for themselves in the horticultural world of the time. Item 35. The Japanese cherry trees planted along the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., as a bridge of friendship and goodwill between Japan and the United States, and the dogwood trees sent from America to Japan as a return gift; the achievements of Yokohama Ueki in realizing this beautiful story, and more.

Act Three: Stories from the Showa Era Item 51. Fragments of actual transactions related to the import and export of plants conducted by Yokohama Ueki with overseas countries, as recorded in diplomatic documents. Item 52. The third president, Seizo Suzuki, entrusted with steering the company during the difficult times of the Great Depression and the omens of World War II, utilized his excellent English skills, made numerous business trips to Europe and the United States, and worked tirelessly to expand sales channels. He gave a lecture in English on "The Development of Japanese Horticulture" at a meeting of the Yokohama Rotary Club. Those historical records are illusory. Item 53. The manliness of Yasuzo Numata, the 6th president who rose from being a rice shop apprentice to a Chinese restaurant owner and politician, and dedicated himself to the post-war reconstruction of Yokohama and its economy, and the rebuilding of "Yokohama Ueki," and the trigger for this was a single word from his esteemed friend and political powerhouse, Taketora Ogata, and more.

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