Japan's Heart and Culture

Nanakusa refers to either of two sets of seven herbs: one is consisting of the seven herbs of the springs "Haru no nanakusa" and the other one refers to the seven herbs of autumn "Aki no nanakusa".

Nanakusa gayu

January 7^th is the day of Nanakusa or Jinjitsu no Sekku.

It is on this day which "Nanakusa gayu" rice porridge with seven spring herbs is eaten.
The Seven Spring Herbs consist of:

• Japanese parsley (seri)
• Shepherd’s purse (nazuna)
• Cudweed (gogyou)
• Chickweed (hakobera)
• Henbit (hotokenoza)
• Turnip (suzuna)
• Japanese radish. (suzushiro)
  
  The belief is if you eat this porridge you will stay healthy the whole year.

Nanakusa gayu

The Seven autumn Herbs consist of:

• Japanese bush clover (Hagi)
• Eulalia (Suzuki)
• Kudzu vine (Kuzu)
• Fringed Pink (Nadeshiko)
• a perennial herb of the family Valerianaceae (Ominaeshi)
• Boneset (Fujibakama)
• Chinese bell flowers (Asagao or Kikyou)

The Nanakusa Kouro (Incense burner) design on the surface is the seven autumn flowers (aki no nanakusa). This flower arrangement is use at the time of  O'Bon Festival and moon-viewing festivities.


These seven autumn flowers are making a very beautiful flowers arrangement to enjoy in pure simplicity.