Summer Image, Japanese Morning Glory Fair

Every child has an experience of growing the morning glory at a primary school in Japan. At Iriya, an old town in Tokyo, near Ueno, a Japanese morning glory fair, one of the summer images, has started today. At the narrow sidewalk and the precinct of Shingenji Temple, more than fifty stalls were set up.
According to a brochure, morning glory flower was carried down as a drug by a Japanese envoy to China in the Tang Dynasty. Growing morning glory flowers for visual effect became booming during Edo period. In Meiji era, Iriya became famous for morning glory and the flowers were displayed and sold, but all the gardeners closed a business by the beginning of Taisho Era. The fair revived after the War.
Popular is “Danjuro”, whose color is the same as that of the famous Kabuki actor, Danjuro Ichikawa. I bought one pot having four kinds of colors. It costs 2,000 yen. I felt rather expensive. I selected a stall which uses eco-friendly pots. I will be able to enjoy the flowers till the beginning of November.

(Precinct of Shingenji Temple)

(Stalls at the Sidewalk)

(Sellers' Own Costumes)

(I Will Help to Water Flowers.)

(Danjuro*)

*The pure Danjuro seems to have no while edging.