Sunflowers in the Shining Radiance

The sunflowers are unmistakable symbol of summer. This large flower blooms when facing the sky and gives off a dazzling sensation. Actually, the sunflower is a member of the Asteraceae family. The country of origin is in the North American state of California and is said to have been introduced to Japan during the early Edo period. However, because parts of the plant differs from Japan’s chrysanthemum in terms of height and overall shape, the first Japanese to have gazed at a sunflower must have been taken aback. Due to the plant’s original cultivation process, you can see a variety of sunflower types in Japan these days. Between a sunflower larger than yourself or the palm of your hand: which do you prefer? We hope you can enjoy summer’s symbol, the sunflower, in these illustrations!