1. Yamagata and safflower

Safflower is the prefecture flower of Yamagata.

The high-quality safflower, which was once called “Mogami safflower,” was sent to Kyoto and Osaka as raw materials for dyes and lipsticks.
The wealth and culture brought back through this safflower trade still remain in various parts of Yamagata Prefecture.

For example, the Hina doll from the old family were brought back from Kyoto.
Every February, an event called “Yamagata Hina no Michi” is held to display the Kanei and Kyoho chicks that have been passed down from generation to generation.

Also, the famous Hanagasa summer festival actually reproduces the state of the safflower field.

2. Experience safflower dyeing!

The biggest attraction of safflower is the bright crimson color extracted from the flower.

The red pigment that can only be taken from 1% of a flower is very valuable.​ *​ It was 100 times more expensive than rice and 10 times more expensive than gold back in the safflower trading days.
*Beni-mochi is a product obtained by removing the yellow pigments and then rolling and drying the rest.

The deeper the red was the more expensive it would be, and the common people were prohibited from using safflower on their clothes.
The only color that was not forbidden was the ikkozome light pink.​ 
※ Please refer to the coloring sample below.

Although chemical dyes have become the mainstream due to the time being cheap, the beauty of natural safflower dyeing has a taste that chemical dyes do not have.

In Yamagata, you can try safflower dyeing all-year-round.
Why don’t you make yourself a beautiful safflower-dyed handkerchief for your travel memories?

So, before introducing the activity facilities, I will briefly explain safflower dyeing.

The biggest attraction of safflower is the bright crimson color extracted from the flower.

The red pigment that can only be taken from 1% of a flower is very valuable.​ *​ It was 100 times more expensive than rice and 10 times more expensive than gold back in the safflower trading days.
*Beni-mochi is a product obtained by removing the yellow pigments and then rolling and drying the rest.

The deeper the red was the more expensive it would be, and the common people were prohibited from using safflower on their clothes.
The only color that was not forbidden was the ikkozome light pink.​ *​ Or so it is said.
※ Please refer to the coloring sample below.

Although chemical dyes have become the mainstream due to the time being cheap, the beauty of natural safflower dyeing has a taste that chemical dyes do not have.

In Yamagata, you can try safflower dyeing all-year-round.
Why don’t you make yourself a beautiful safflower-dyed handkerchief for your travel memories?

So, before introducing the activity facilities, I will briefly explain safflower dyeing.

The safflower pigments include safrole yellow (yellow) and carsamine (red).
The four color samples are representative colors of safflower dyeing.

Approximately 99% of safflower is a yellow pigment, which is used for coloring silk and foods because it is water-soluble, easy to take out, and has an insect-preserving effect.

紅花の中に1％しか含まれない紅い色素は、水には溶けないため黄色色素を完全に取り除いてから、弱アルカリ水などを使って取り出します。
染める場合はさらに酢などを加え染色液を調整し、さらに染める回数を増やすことでより濃い紅色に染めることができます。

・Safflower dyeing activity

Safflower dyeing that you can feel free to experience all year round.

Children and adults can enjoy the experience and take back a beautiful hand-painted safflower-dyed handkerchief as a souvenir.

Most facilities require advance reservations, so please inquire.

3. Let's go see safflower!

Events where cancelled for summer 2020 but you can still go see the flowers in the fields.

・Yamagata City

・Tendo City

・Kahoku

・Shirataka

4. Try safflower!

Safflower is used not only as a dye but also for food.

You can soak or tempura the young vegetables before they bloom, or you can drink the flowers as tea.

Tea is also sold as souvenir, so if you are interested, please give it a try.

As you can see in this picture, safflower is sometimes used kneading it into noodles.
The pink noodles are so beautiful.

In the central area of Yamagata City, restaurants offer a variety of creative dishes using safflower to entertain customers as part of the “Yamagata Beni Kaido Campaign.”
*Cancelled in 2020.

If you have a chance, please try it once.

5. Conclusion

What did you think?

If you learn about safflower you will know the culture and history of Yamagata.

Basho sang
“They make recall ~ a lady’s powder puff ~ these saffron blossoms”
 in one of his haiku.

Basho probably traveled to Yamagata when he was a safflower.
Perhaps I was watching a vast safflower field on the way to Yamadera.

In 2018, “Safflower culture supported by Yamadera” was certified as a Japanese Heritage, and is appealing to many people.

When you come to Yamagata, please experience the safflower culture.