Paris Watch Japanese Florist Pursues Bloom of French Style By KIKI YOSHIDA	フレームで見る  英文をプリントする  脚注をプリントする
頑張る日本人フローリスト 花の都・パリーそこでフローリストとして生活する本林史子さん。花に魅せられてパリに飛び、フローリストの資格を取得した本林さんは、現在は2つの花屋で仕事をしています。今回は、フローリストの仕事と、日仏の「花文化」の違いについてレポートします。

Close your eyes and imagine you are holding a bouquet in your hands. How do you feel — relaxed? Are you smiling? You can't get angry at flowers, can you?

Flower shops are everywhere in the streets of Paris. Sometimes I see men leaving these shops in the evening with flowers (in most cases, roses) in their hands. Surely these flowers are for wives or girlfriends. How romantic!

Recently, I had a chance to talk with Fumiko Motobayashi, a florist living in Paris. It was interesting to hear the story of how she got to where she is today.

First I asked about the word `florist.' Motobayashi explained: "It generally means flower shop. But it also means a person who grows and arranges flowers. In Japan anyone can open a flower shop quite easily. You don't have to be a specialist. There are flower artists, but it is not always the case that they have their own shop.

"In Paris, however, those who work at flower shops are professionals. They have graduated from special schools and have lots of experience," she added.

"So when French people need professional decoration, they ask the shop directly. Florists sell not only flowers but also their skills. The word florist contains two meanings at the same time in France."

Born in 1961, Motobayashi grew up in Hyogo Prefecture. "There have always been flowers around me," she recalled. "And I always wanted to decorate with them."

She started to take lessons in ikebana in her early 20s, which deepened her interest.

Then she saw an article in a magazine about a woman working as a freelance flower decorator. She pictured herself doing the same thing, and knew that was exactly what she wanted to do. When, soon after that, she saw a woman arranging flowers at a coffee shop in Kobe, it only confirmed her thoughts.

Motobayashi continued studying, examining different styles. During the last years, she taught as a substitute instructor. And she started to work at a display company.

Around this time she also began participating in floral workshops. This is how she met the famous French florist Liliane Francois.

Motobayashi flew to France to participate one of Mme. Francois' workshops, and Francois, impressed, asked if Motobayashi wanted to come work at her shop. Her words triggered something in Motobayashi's heart.

It was not easy for Motobayashi to leave the company where she had worked for six years. But nothing, she decided, was more important than pursuing her dream.

At first, she attended language school in Nice and after six months moved to Paris. She started as an apprentice at Francois' shop, located in the 16th Ward.

Motobayashi said she was excited to discover new things every day with Francois. "I was so eager to learn how she mixes different colors, how she makes flowers look more natural," she said.

Now she decorates regularly at two shops. Mostly she teaches French-style arrangement to Japanese people. Eighty percent of her students are wives of Japanese businessmen.

"There are not so many Japanese florists in Paris," said Motobayashi. "I know some people who work as apprentices, like I did, but they leave after six months or so."

She said they don't get paid much because they are still learning and gaining experience. They don't expect the money, but they can't stay long, either.

In Japan's flower schools, students model their arrangements on the teacher's example. But Motobayashi said she hated this style of learning. So she takes a different approach in her classes.

"I want them to know that there are no such models," she said. "I teach French style, you see. I was fascinated with its free style of arrangement. There are no preconceived designs or ideas. French people are very good at expressing whatever they feel."

Motobayashi would like even more Japanese to know about the French style. "I want to make this wonderful French style more popular in Japan," she said. "But I know, for example, it's impossible to make exactly the same bouquet in Japan as the one I make in France.

"The flowers are different, the climate is different, you know. But I can put esprit, or soul, in the style," Motobayashi said, with obvious enthusiasm. "I am thinking about planning a program for Japanese tourists as well. It would please me if, even for a short time, they could experience French-style flower arrangement in Paris."

But in fact, the more she learns about French style, the more she has come to love her own culture. "I see how great Japanese culture is now, in a foreign country. I couldn't see that so clearly when I was in Japan," she said. "My message to Japanese people is: `Feel and appreciate our great culture in daily life.'"

I understand what she means. And I feel the same way.

After talking with Fumiko Motobayashi, I felt so cheered, as if I had a bouquet in my hand. It was the feeling I get when I see someone with passion and love. This is the story of a Japanese florist in Paris — I will be watching her adventure.

Shukan ST: July 2, 1999

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