Lily of the Valley

Takashi Harada

Director of Harada Dermatology Clinic, 1968 Medicine

After working at university hospitals for 38 years, including the Department of Dermatology at Keio University, I retired at the age of 65. I was unsure of what to do after retirement, but feeling that I still had physical and mental energy left, I opened a clinic with my wife, who is also an alumna, ahead of what is now called "work-style reform." We rented a space in "Suzuran Kaikan," owned by the association of the historic Suzuran-dori Shopping Street near the north exit of Kyodo Station on the Odakyu Line. It is truly community medicine, and many of the patients are elderly residents of the area. It has been 15 years since I opened the clinic, and quite often, patients with sharp eyes spot the tricolor logo or the shield featuring the Sanshokuki donated by the Keio medical office and ask, "Are you also from Keio? I am a graduate of the Juku as well," or "My grandchild entered Keio this year." At that moment, even if we were in different faculties, I feel as if I have met an old classmate. The flower language of the lily of the valley (suzuran) is "return of happiness," "humility," and "purity," and I have been able to spend my post-retirement life humbly, happily, and enjoyably.

Akira Koizumi

Executive Director of Sapporo Mita-kai, 1970 Commerce

After graduating from the Juku, I joined a company, and my first assignment was in Sapporo. It is a city where plum, cherry, and magnolia blossoms all bloom at once during the May holidays.

A little later in the same season, the lily of the valley (suzuran) bloomed. At that time, young employees at the company were talking about how they could go "lily of the valley hunting" at the Eniwa Self-Defense Force garrison. They said, "We've been doing this for several years; we go hunting for lilies of the valley and give them to those being transferred that year." I thought it was a wonderful idea and participated. The flower language of the lily of the valley is said to be "happiness will return to the recipient," and they are given with a prayer that "happiness may find you in your new post as well."

Another memory is the 60th NHK morning drama series, "Suzuran," in 1999. It was a story about a daughter who faced many hardships, but I watched it because the cast included Isao Hashizume and Chieko Baisho, who are my favorite actors. About ten years ago, after I started living in Sapporo, I visited "Amomoi Station" (Ebishima Station), the station featured in the drama. The simple coal-era station building used for filming was still there.

Mariko Yoshida

Craft Artist, 2008 Policy Management

As a craft artist, I provide ideas for childcare workers and parents to enjoy experiments and crafts with children in childcare settings and at home.

For the past seven years, I have had a column on "Hoi-Kuru," an information site for childcare workers. I introduce one play idea per week, and I devised my own method for coming up with new ideas. It is to ask the question, "What would this look like to be interesting or to make children happy?" For example, in an experiment where thin strips of Suzuran Tape (plastic packing tape) stick to a child's hand due to static electricity, what would make it look interesting? The way the Suzuran Tape moves fluffily—it might be interesting if it were a ghost or an alien.

When I made eyes and a nose out of colored tape on a bundle of thinly shredded Suzuran Tape and hung it from the ceiling as an "alien," my son, who was six at the time, was delighted and "shook hands" with the alien many times. This is a way of thinking I would love for those with small children nearby to try.

Yoko Kumanoya

Professor, Faculty of Law, Keio University

In May, when the Russian forests are filled with sunlight, warmth, and the rustle of life, the white flowers of the lily of the valley bloom. Hearing this, many may recall the Russian song "Suzuran" (Landysh), which the Dark Ducks used to sing as "Landysh, Landysh." While the Japanese version depicts a maiden holding a lily of the valley (Landysh) from a male perspective, the original lyrics by Olga Fadeyeva were about a woman singing about her boyfriend. It became a huge hit in 1958 when performed by the beautiful voice of Gelena Velikanova. Composed by Oscar Feltsman, it remains a beloved song that ranks among the "100 Songs Every Russian Knows."

"My" boyfriend is still young, probably poor and clumsy, and gave me a modest bouquet of lilies of the valley instead of roses or lilies. The lyrics continue, "Not flashy, not luxurious / A gentle scent / Full of a wonderful spring / Like a song without poetry / Like a first love / Like a first confession," and the chorus goes, "Landysh, Landysh / Glowing May says hello / Landysh, Landysh / A white bouquet." The lily of the valley is a symbol of early summer and of the youth of the two.