"Beyond HIMAWARI – Sunflowers aren't just yellow" #04 Sunflowers' "fixed image" changed. The untold story of Darjeeling, Vol. 1

《Beyond HIMAWARI ─ Sunflowers aren't just yellow》#04
Changing the "fixed idea" of sunflowers. The untold story behind the birth of Darjeeling, Vol. 1

A journey to discover why "I've never seen a sunflower like this before."

"Sunflower = yellow" - The brown sunflower "Darjeeling" overturns this image.
While single-petal sunflowers are the mainstream, how did the new approach of double-petal and brown hues come into being?

Behind it lies years of trial and error in breeding and the developers' clear vision.
This time, we interviewed Mr. Matsumoto of Miyoshi Co., Ltd., who spearheaded the development of "Darjeeling," about its birth story.

*You can find more details about the "Darjeeling" sunflower in this article. Please take a look.

"I wanted to create the next generation of sunflowers" - The inspiration behind the development

The development of the prototype for "Darjeeling" began in the early 2000s.
The story begins at Miyoshi Co., Ltd.'s breeding farm in Yamanashi Prefecture.

At that time, single-petal sunflowers were the mainstream.
While double-petal varieties like "Tohoku Yaemaki" and "Lemonade" had appeared, their colors were primarily yellow.
A "brown double-petal sunflower" was still rare and uncharted territory in the industry.

It started with a desire to "create a new sunflower." As development progressed, the direction gradually solidified towards double-petal and brown hues.

Over 10 years to completion. The development journey was longer than imagined.

In flower development, the real challenge begins after the ideal form is envisioned.
There are countless factors to clear, such as color stability, stem rigidity, height balance, and days to flowering.

It's said that they repeated prototyping and selection for many years, aiming for not only aesthetic beauty but also quality that is easy for farmers to handle and suitable for distribution.

Mixed reactions. The struggle before committing to commercialization.

Around the time stable quality finally emerged, an internal discussion arose: "Will brown sunflowers sell?"

Brown flowers are generally the opposite of the bright, cheerful image associated with sunflowers.
While some voices said, "It might not be accepted by the market," others argued, "Now is the time to release it because it offers unique value."

What pushed the decision for commercialization was the experience of Mr. Matsumoto, the development manager.
Having previously worked in sales, Mr. Matsumoto had a gut feeling, based on his experience in both the market and the field, that "this color scheme will surely resonate with some people."

Then, in the early 2020s, after years of trial and error, "Darjeeling" was finally officially registered as a variety and commercialized.

For whom is "Darjeeling" a sunflower?

Darjeeling's distinctive mahogany-brown flower color suits autumn as well as summer.
Mr. Matsumoto, the developer, says:

"I hope it becomes a flower that can be enjoyed for longer and more widely, going beyond the image of 'sunflowers = summer'."

Indeed, it is a sunflower that transcends seasons and fixed ideas.
Perhaps that is the greatest charm of "Darjeeling."

"This flower might suit the adult you've become."

"Darjeeling" is an "adult sunflower" with a calm and profound feel, neither vivid yellow nor simple single-petaled.

It's a flower that gently resonates with the sensibilities of both givers and receivers, regardless of gender or age.
As a new classic that suits summer evenings, its presence is quietly expanding.

Next, in Vol. 2, we will delve into the origin of the name "Darjeeling" and the feelings behind its naming.