[Nagoya, Kokusai Center] Flower Shop "VIBURNUM" that Connects London Style Flower Culture

About 5 minutes on foot from Nagoya Municipal Subway "Kokusai Center Station". "VIBURNUM", which is located in a corner of a business district lined with buildings, is a flower shop celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

The bouquets created by the owner, Ms. Tanase, who honed her skills in London, are natural yet elegant with flowers. It is a shop that proposes a wide range of flower services such as school, wedding, gardening as well as flower arrangement.

This time, we asked Ms. Tanase about her training days in London, which was her starting point, and her commitment to flower arrangements.

The location is a 5-minute walk from Nagoya Municipal Subway "Kokusai Center Station" Exit 3, and a 7-minute walk from "Fushimi Station". Within walking distance from Nagoya station.

When I entered the store, there was a wonderful space.

Many flowers are lined up.

From small green plants to large foliage plants with a strong presence.

The flower base is also lined up with good taste.

Childhood with flowers

Ms. Tanase originally worked for a furniture manufacturer. What made you want to work with flowers?

Ms. Tanase:“My grandmother was a certified ikebana (the art of Japanese flower arrangement) teacher, so I watched her ikebana arranging in the alcove when I was a child and helped her out. Flowers have always been very close to me.

When I was in college, my mother encouraged me to work part-time at a flower shop. However, when I got a job, I began to feel that I wanted to do something for myself rather than working for a large company. When I was looking for something I could do on my own, I think it was my grandmother's influence that led me to 'flowers'. ”

– And from there, did you go on to become a florist?

Ms. Tanase:"I decided to study abroad in the UK in order to obtain a flower qualification. Europe has a national qualification for floristry recognized by the country, so I wanted to go to a college over there and learn. "

– That's a lot of energy.

Ms. Tanase: "When I came to the UK a little early and asked for an interview with a professor at the college, I was told that "your current language skills would not pass" because the entrance examination includes a departmental test like English and arithmetic. I was shown the English report to be submitted in class and thought it might not work, so I went to ....... For six months, I studied English every day in the Foundation Course (a preparatory course to improve language skills required for university admission), and I successfully passed the exam and was admitted."

Meet Timothy Dunn

In the college floristry course, there is a compulsory unit to train at a flower shop once a week, and you will find a training place by yourself.

Ms. Tanase:"I saw a flower shop in London that was featured in the magazine 'Hana Jikan', which was sent to me by a Japanese friend and suggested a life with flowers, so I visited several place. Among them, I was attracted to the flower shop of Timothy Dunn, one of London's top flower artists, and I wanted to work there. ”

– What attracted you to it?

Ms. Tanase: “It’s about the use of colors. He originally became a florist after being a musician, so he’s very artistic.

However, they didn't accept trainees, so I didn't even get an interview, so I spent some time training at another flower shop. Meanwhile, a college professor called Timothy himself and introduced me to him. When I told him that there was a student who visited Timothy's store and got an autograph, he remembered me and accepted me as a trainee. ”

Ms. Tanase was finally accepted as a trainee at the store of her dreams, acquired knowledge and skills, and acquired the British NCPF (National Certificate in Professional Floristry). The fact that she obtained a visa and a work permit and continued to work after graduating from college shows Ms. Tanase's ability.

She has experienced a wide range of work, such as arranging and creating bouquets at shops, and decorating large-scale venues. Musician Timothy Dunn's shop seems to have been in charge of flowers delivered to famous artists such as Madonna and Elton John in response to requests from music-related companies.

– Please tell us about the work that left an impression on you.

Ms. Tanase: “We used flowers to decorate private weddings in tents and parties in castles.

After that, when the King of Dubai came to London to escape the heat, I went to arrange flowers in his room. I also arranged flowers in the bathroom, and it was a different world. ”

Wedding decorations in two colors, white and green

Wedding in a tent on top of a building

Singer Madonna's Wedding Bouquet

A party at a mansion on the outskirts of London. In Japan, physalis is used as a flower for the Bon festival, but in Europe, it is called "Chinese lantern" and is commonly used as a summer flower material.

Wedding flowers in church

Welcome flowers to decorate hotel rooms for international artists during their stay in London

– Do they have a different sense of flowers than in Japan?

Ms. Tanase:“In Japan, sweets and food are often given as souvenirs when invited to a friend’s house, but in England, flowers are often given as souvenirs. Even men buy flowers as a matter of course. , Even if it wasn't an anniversary, people bought flowers on my way home from work, so flowers were something close to everyday life."

She reflected on how essential flowers are to our lives, and how he got a glimpse into not only flower culture but also people's daily lives.

Opened VIBURNUM, which conveys British style flowers

After studying and working in England for three years, she opened his own shop, VIBURNUM, in 2001. The store name "VIBURNUM" comes from the flowers that bloom in early summer.

Ms. Tanase: "After returning to Japan, I was introduced to this place through an acquaintance.

It may come as a surprise, but most of our customers are men. There are many customers who ordered flowers for a farewell party at work and used them for private occasions, and many customers who made bouquets for weddings order flowers every year for their anniversary. ”

When it first opened, this area was a business district, but there were vacant lots and it was quiet on weekends.

Ms. Tanase: "Mansion is being built, and the number of customers who want to buy it for their home has increased, so we are trying to have a wide variety of products."

The concept is "I want to convey British flowers". Even after opening the business, Ms. Tanase often visited the UK to see the procurement of materials and local work, and to incorporate trends.

– First of all, what kind of arrangement is London style?

Ms. Tanase:“Because of England's roots in gardening, at least two to five types of greenery are included. In Japan, flowers are the main attraction, so greenery plays a supporting role because it hides the oasis (foundation), but in England, greenery is very important.

It's much different now, and some florists are more sophisticated, stuffing roses like in France, but England style is classic and rustic."

This is an eye-catching vitamin-colored bouquet of double-flowered sunflowers "Lemonade". A lot of green is a good accent.

– Please tell us about your commitment to purchasing flowers.

Ms. Tanase:"We try to stock all kinds of flowers to accommodate different orders and customer preferences.

If I were an artist, I would stock the particular flowers I like, but I value the needs of my customers, so I try to meet each customer's order as they want it. I ask in detail about the purpose of the gift, where it will be given, the recipient's age and preferences, and so on. It is difficult for male customers to talk about their needs, but I am able to get that out of them. Even if they say it's up to me, I make each item custom-made, listening closely to the customer's voice."

The idea was to provide flowers that put the customer first.

During the interview, she received several phone calls asking for orders, and I was able to see how the bouquets were being made.

This time's order is "a bouquet to give to the recital". Based on the information we receive from the customer, such as the desired color, the person to whom it will be given, the situation, etc., we will combine them without hesitation.

In just a few minutes, a beautiful bouquet of flowers is ready. The dahlia, peony, rose and gorgeousness of deep pink express the elegance of adults. The well-balanced arrangement of greens and small flowers is also a point.