Tokyo Times

Photographs from a small group of islands

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The beauty of autumn’s red spider lily, Japan’s flower of death

The merciful drop in humidity is a welcome sign that after months of discomfort, summer is at last on the wane. However, a far more reliable indicator is the blossoming of red spider lilies. Higanbana to use one of its many Japanese names. Or simply the flower of death.

Poisonous to rodents and other wild animals, they were often planted in and around graveyards during Japan’s pre-cremation days to stop the dead being eaten. The beginning, perhaps, of their connection with death.

The name of the flower can also refer to ‘the other shore’; its bright colours said to guide souls into the afterlife. An aspect that presumably explains its use at funerals.

And if that wasn’t enough, another story is that red spider lilies bloom along the paths of departing lovers. Companions who for one reason or another are destined to never meet again.

Yet associations with death and departing lovers aside, the higanbana does undoubtedly represent the shift from summer to autumn. A welcome sight after too many long, desperately hot days. Although it’s not just the promise of cooler weather, but also its incredible beauty.

red spider lily. Japanese higanbana

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      • Mind blowing. Just so happened across this. The little story up top, that is & when I got to the part about, “another story is that red spider lilies bloom along the paths of departing lovers. Companions who for one reason or another are destined to never meet again”

        I immediately thought of an old girlfriend of mine that I had to move on from, but will forever love, with a part of me & it left me feeling inspired to write a song.

        Then, I get down to the comment section & see the name of the most deeply personal song I’ve ever written/will ever probably write — Aurora. Which that was about something different altogether (watching my sister in law miscarriage, while my brother was out of town)

        So I decide, I wonder what they commented 🧐& something heavy coursed through me, as I read a comment, made the hair on my arms stand up.

        Anyway, if whoever you are, Aurora — if you ever read my comment. I’d love to read your poem. I don’t even know what this site is, so if you or anyone that knows you, reads this, hit me up. 828-695-7331

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      • I live in Texas and they are popping up in my town more frequent this year than any?!? Maybe because of flooding is spreading their seeds?!? I mean they are in random areas…idk whether to consider it a good or bad omen with the recent hurricane a week prior to the first sighting of them here….

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        • Huh, you know, they’re also called the “Hurrican Flower”… But that’s more for their appearance, I think.

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    • Thanks, Willy. Interesting, isn’t it? It’s only recently that I learnt about all the myths surrounding them. I’d just seen them as pretty red flowers before. Not anymore…

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      • I think there’s a beauty, in the myths. Plus, I am in a kinda crazy headspace right now & they, along with a few of these comments (yours too, in a way. Well & this is apparently your blog?) really resonate with me. In a deeply personal way. Hence my going full blown, super rare form (for myself, that is) & just divulge super personal information to complete strangers, in one of the most beautiful places on earth. I’d love to check out Japan. Maybe someday I will. 🇯🇵

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      • Eh. Me again. Just realized it’s the Tokyo times. I know that seems super dumb, but I’ve been up for like 36 hrs, finally got finished being out in the North Carolina heat for the day & am now rambling on this site.

        Never really checked out Tokyo Times. Seems super cool though. This persons blog thing, at least. I’ll have to check some more out after my waaaay overdue nap. Hope everyone is well this evening.

        Reply

    • We are in a rent house and never knew they were under the ground near our crepe myrtle tree. The day that we got a phone call that my husband’s father had fallen and wasn’t going to recover, we turned to walk in the house, there they were! Blooming, seemingly out of nowhere! I have a new favorite flower.

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  4. Oh wow. Such intriguing lore surrounding such a simple looking flower. I love the angle at which you captured them; it accentuates their story.

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    • Than you, Lizzy. I know, I was equally surprised when I did my research. They will never look the same again.

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  5. Beautiful Shot!
    They are mysterious and lovely too! One of the few types of flowers that I liked.

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  6. The history about this flower is as interesting as the flower is beautiful. Very nice shot Lee !

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  7. Thank you very much for this! I was just needing some inspiration to write about these flowers, they’re so beautiful!!

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  9. Spider lilies, in Homura Akemi’s Withch’s labyrinth. Reference to Madoka Magica. Homura turned into a Witch, because she thought she was never going to see Madoka again.

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  10. A sister in Alabama sent me several bulbs over a year ago. I am in Las Vegas, Nevada and planted them early summer. Immediately they grew only with long narrow leaves and that was it. I was disappointed but assured the leaves were like fertilizer for the flower in the upcoming year. Wow, August 21 (solar eclipse) through August 28 when they bloomed, I was NOT disappointed. No leaves, just stem on blossom. Should I cut the stem down at ground when the bloom dies or wait until the stem/flower have withered?

    Reply

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