Dear Mum,

Japan, one of the foremost countries in flower arranging, often relies on a simple mum on the solemn occasion of a funeral. 

These beauties known to us Americans as 'mums', carry precedence with their cheer and happiness; however, in Japanese these are actually more commonly known as funeral flowers. The flower's full name is chrysanthemum and, as a personal experience, I associate it with the Parade of Homes, but there is also a spectacular Chinese movie, the crest of the Japanese throne, as well as a flower tea that is associated with this flower. White is typically more common since it is seen as pure to the soul and is used to keep out impure spirits. In addition to these flowers they also decorate their house with white paper and will typically preform a Buddhist ceremony.

Flowers are sometimes not adequate enough in the expression of grief. And in these circumstances people will present either 'koden' or 'hanawa'. Hanawa is more or less an extension of the flower, and is an elebroate funeral wreath of flowers. Koden is a monetary gift to help supplement the family and the cost of the funeral.

However I found these flowers on a much happier occasion. It was a competition of sorts; a display of all of the beautifully grown chrysanthemums located at the Natural Science museum in Osaka.