HANASHOBU- 
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Nature worship and Ancestor worship, the Strong Pillars of the ancient and 
the modern Shintoism of Japan, are united in the fond reverence that enshrines 
the Japanese Iris, together with the familiar Household Gods. For Nature gave the 
Iris to Old Japan, and the Ancestors of Young Japan cherished it, and made it one 
of the loveliest floral jewels that the sun shines upon. 
JAPANESE 
IRIS 
NISHIKA- 
YAMA 
(Meaning 
"A 
Brocade 
Mountain") 
are now only a matter of history, but there are three that maintain their fame 
in these modern days. They are all located in the neighborhood of Tokyo, 
known as Yeddo in early days, in a place called Horikiri. These three Iris gar¬ 
dens are Katoka-yen, Horikiri-yen, and Mushashi-yen, all dating back for three 
centuries to the days when Tokyo became the capitol of the Shoguns. Two of 
them still maintain their standing as wonder gardens, but of late years Mushashi- 
yen has to some degree fallen into decline. 
It was not until early in the nineteenth century, however, that the first 
real horticultural varieties were developed; and the faithful records of those 
years make note that most of them came through the interest and genius of 
Matsidairi Showo, a famous Daimyo. 
The outside world knew nothing of the beauty of the Iris and the grandeur 
of the Japanese Iris Gardens, because the outside world, with what we are 
pleased to call modern civilization, did not penetrate the closely guarded frontiers 
and seacoasts of the Island Empire until comparatively modern times, when the 
American Commodore Perry made his famous treaty with Japan. 
y OKIO-TANI told the story of Hanashobu as he sat in the toy-like tea¬ 
house which looks down on the "Rainbow-on-the-Ground", which is the 
name of the beautiful Iris Garden outside of Tokyo. It was the fascinat¬ 
ing story of "Hanashobu", the name by which Japan knows the lovely Japanese 
Iris. 
Yokio is an enthusiastic student of the history of Old Japan, with its 
Samurai warriors and Shoguns. To listen to him is to hear many wondrous tales 
of things and events that began and took place in the dim-lit years when the 
Monarchs of Europe were trying to find a passage by sea to the fabled Nippon 
of legend, created by wanderers and travellers. 
Even before Columbus sailed west from Spain nearly four hundred and 
fifty years ago, the Island Empire was revelling in the beauty of the Iris. True, 
it was not the highly developed and perfected flower we know today, in all of 
its infinite variety. It grew wild on the hillsides and was treasured by the simple 
peasants and farmers because of its natural beauty. These sons of the soil 
brought the Iris to adorn their home gardens and the furrows of their rice fields. 
But as time went on, these amateur "horticulturists" began training the Iris to 
the ways of man, perfecting it, selecting and crossing it and giving it the first 
beginnings of standardization. 
The Centuries sped past and the Iris continued to be just another lovely 
flower in the land of Nippon, even as it emerged through the years into greater 
loveliness. 
It was more than three hundred years ago that men, wise in the ways of 
flowers and possessed of a great and intelligent love for them, began cultivating 
Japanese Iris along the lines of definite purpose and plan. 
During these hidden years of glory for the Japanese Iris, they brought 
pleasure and delight only to the Japanese people, where they became nationally 
famous. The great Daimyos and others highly placed in officialdom and civil 
life made the Iris Gardens their favorite rendezvous, patronizing the tea houses 
which were a famous feature of them. So, for many years the Japanese Iris 
in its greatest beauty was to be enjoyed only by the people of Japan, and 
principally by those in the higher stations in life. 
It was not until about seventy years ago that the rest of the world, par¬ 
ticularly America and Europe, welcomed the introduction of the Japanese Iris. 
Since that time it has been greeted with enthusiasm and has become established 
as one of our real Queens of the Garden, with our leading horticulturists and 
breeders devoting their skill and study to the cultivation of the many varieties 
that have found their way to our shores. Today, while the Japanese Iris are 
still among the rarities of horticulture, they are available for every garden 
lover to enjoy, including those very rare varieties that have recently been re¬ 
ceived direct from Japan. 
My Japanese Iris collection represents the most comprehensive and highly 
selective group to be found in the United States if not in the world. This col¬ 
lection includes hundreds of the finest imported varieties, the loveliest varieties 
developed by other hybridizers, and also my own individual developments that 
have won highest praise and rating from connoisseurs in the horticultural world. 
I am happy to be able to offer such a magnificent group of flowers for the 
beautification of American gardens. 
It was this era that saw the inception of the great Iris Gardens of Japan, 
where these exotic blooms found fitting setting. Most of these great Iris Gardens 
