It's that time of the year when things get rosy for flower lovers in Japan.
The International Roses & Gardening Show, held annually at the Seibu Dome in Saitama Prefecture, will mark the 15th anniversary of its launch this year. To commemorate the occasion, the organizers of the popular show, which boasts 200,000 visitors every year, will look back on the last 15 years of the rose industry, displaying a wide range of rose varieties that have been produced over the period.
In addition, the show will have a special section dedicated to Turkey, where a traditional Turkish garden will be recreated. To mark the friendly relations Japan and Turkey have enjoyed over the years (despite the rivalry involved in both countries' bids to host the 2020 Olympics), a new variety of rose called Ertugrul, named after a frigate of the Ottoman Navy that sank off the coast of Wakayama Prefecture in 1890, will be unveiled to the public for the first time. Some Turkish foods will also be available at the expo.
Other highlights at the six-day show include a fountain that uses pure rose water. A total of 200,000 Damask roses, a variety known for its strong fragrance, will be used to create the fountain water, which visitors are free to scoop up and apply to their skin.
The International Roses & Gardening Show 2013 will held from May 11-16 at the Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture. Admission is ¥2,000. For more information, visit www.bara21.jp (in Japanese).