Tokyo Olympics’ Bouquet Is Filled With Poignant Tributes, Here’s What It Means
Image via Olympics
If you’ve seen medalists take to the podium at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, you’d have noticed them holding mini flower bouquets, too. Turns out, the flowers aren’t just pretty to look at, but they also carry significant meaning for the Japanese people.
In total, there will be 5,000 bouquets created for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, as per the official Olympic site. The plushie you see adorning the front of the bouquet is Miraitowa, the mascot of Tokyo 2020.
The bouquet itself comprises five different flowers: eustomas, Solomon’s seals, sunflowers, gentians, and aspidistras. According to BuzzFeed, each of the flowers has a different meaning, representing different regions in Japan.
Image via Olympics
Both the eustomas and Solomon’s seals were grown in Fukushima Prefecture, which was heavily impacted by the Great East Japan Earthquake and nuclear disaster in 2011. A non-profit organization was set up to grow the flowers to fuel hope for the area’s recovery.
As for the sunflowers, many parents in the Miyagi prefecture who lost their children during the disaster planted sunflowers on the hill where their children sought safety from the tsunami. Every year, the area is covered in sunflowers, reflecting the memories of those who lost their lives in the earthquake.
The gentians were produced in Iwate Prefecture, where half of the flower species in Japan grows. Its indigo blue hue pays tribute to the Tokyo 2020 Games emblem. Lastly, the aspidistras were grown in Tokyo, representing the host city of the Summer Games.
Aside from the significant meaning each flower carries, the arrangement of the bouquet was also taken into consideration. According to the official site, the bouquets can last longer than normal ones do, as they have a bag of water (in gel form) attached to the flowers’ stems. The Nippon Flower Council even said the flowers can stay fresh for several days without air-conditioning.
The next time you see an athlete holding onto one of the Olympic bouquets, you’ll be able to reflect upon its meaning and significance to the Japanese people.
[via Buzzfeed, images via Olympics]
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