Paris Watch
Japanese Florist Pursues Bloom of French Style
By KIKI YOSHIDA
|
|
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
(C) All rights reserved
|