The Present Situation of Floriculture in Japan

from the Angle of the Demand

Abstract

In recent years Japan has seen a rapid expansion in floriculture, whose development is said to be an indicator of the cultural level of a nation. However, comparing the per capita outlay for flowers in 1970 with that of European nations Japanese paid only 649 yen, while the amount of West Germany and Norway, respectively, was more than 4, 000 yen. It means that they spend 6 to 8 times as much as in Japan. In Italy and England where the national income per capita is lower than that of Japan, they spend 2.9 and 1.4 times as much for flowers respectively. Despite the fact that at present the Japanese spends less than in the abovementioned countries, Japanese expenditure for flowers is on the increase accompanied by a quick progress in floriculture.
The expenditure for flowers by and average household in the national average in 1963, was 973 yen, and that in a city with the population of more than 50, 000 was 1, 183 yen. In 1970, however, it went up to 1, 926 yen and 2, 141 yen, respectively. For illustration, take the 1963 figures for 100. Then in 1970 you can have 198 for the former household and 181 for the latter. This is a cogent proof that Japan's flower outlay has been growing.
The main types of flowers for consumption are cut flowers and pot flowers. The 1972 total flower expenditure stood at 91, 200 million yen, out of which 76, 800 million (84.2%) went to cut flowers and 14, 400 million (14.5%) to pot flowers.
The chief kinds of cut flowers are chrysanthemums and carnations. They claim a 77 to 90 per cent share of the annual flower receipt by the seven major flower markets in Japan.
In the prewar days the flower demand flucutated depending on the seasons. After the war, reflecting the urbanization and westernization of the Japanese daily life, it has been growing greater and greater for both domestic and commercial uses, thus contributing to the steadiness of the flower demand throughout the year.
Tokyo ranks the first in the flower expenditure (29.1%) and Osaka second (8.8%). It will follow that the flower consumption is strongly tinged with urbanism. And the difference in the flower expenses between the national average, and in a city with the population more than 50, 000 reaches up to about 200 yen per year, which plainly shows that the flower consumption has a great deal to do with the urban way of living.
Of late, the flower outlay in medium and small towns as well as in villages is increasing so much as against those in big cities, that the local differences in the flower consumption are gradually narrowing.