Japanese lantern flower
Origin : Japan
Made of : glass
Classification : plants / flowers
Maker : ?
About "japanese lantern - hozuki" (hōzuki-ichi - ほおづき市) :
The Japanese lantern also called Chinese lantern is a plant which produces a fruit covered by an orange envelope looking like a paper lantern. The scientific name of the plant is Physalis alkekengi and it is native from Europe across southern Asia to Japan.
In July, a festival dedicated to the flower is held at the Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa (Tokyo). The flowers are often bought as offerings to the spirits of the ancestors during O-bon, a buddhist custom.
