Japan House London’s opening day, Friday 22 June, was celebrated by an interactive procession of flowers through the streets and green spaces of Kensington.
Pioneering flower artist and botanical sculptor Azuma Makoto, in collaboration with London Flower School, created a version of Flower Messenger especially for the streets of London. Inspired by flower sellers during Japan’s Edo period (1603-1867), a troupe of thirty flower messengers visited Kensington’s cultural landmarks and creative neighbours, including the Design Museum, CASS ART, Royal Albert Hall the Serpentine’s Summer Pavilion and the Science Museum, on foot to meet our neighbours. Along the way, they greeted passers-by and presented them with flowers.
“Through the act of delivering flowers, I want ‘Flower Messenger’ to share as much joy as possible with as many people as possible to spread as much happiness as we can from Japan House London’s opening,” commented Azuma Makoto.
The Flower Messengers set off from Japan House London and paraded down Kensington High Street, handing our flowers to surprised passers-by as they went. The outfits worn by the Flower Messengers were inspired by the clothes worn by Edo period flower sellers, but revamped for the 21st century by one of the top denim makers in Japan, Dairec, who are based in Japan’s denim capital, Kojima in Okayama Prefecture.
To celebrate the opening of Japan House São Paulo in May 2017, Azuma Makoto had Flower Messengers ride bicycles around the city’s streets while distributing flowers to people, while in London he chose to have the Messengers leisurely walk through the city’s streets and green spaces.