It took us almost 5 years to finish this article. No, we were not busy writing for the past 5 years… But, it is already 5 years ago, in 2012, that we met our dear friend Noriyuki during the WWALA symposium in Texas. Once again these symposiums proved their worth. We don’t think that Noriyuki was planning on visiting Belgium any time soon and we didn’t have any plans (yet) to go to Japan either.
So, where else then at the IWC in San Angelo, could we have met this wonderful Japanese hybridizer? It took us so long to write this article because we both aren’t native english speakers, which makes an interview a little more challenging. But here it finally is, we hope you enjoy it as much as we did preparing it!
Noriyuki Kato
Noriyuki Kato grew up in an old Japanese confectioner’s shop, where they make the beautiful “Wagashi”. No, I did not know what Wagashi meant before I started this article 🙂 But now I really would love to see and taste this piece of art, although it looks too beautiful to even touch! It is a Japanese traditional sweet that is made with mochi (rice dish), azuki bean paste and fruit… and it looks absolutely stunning!
These sweets play an important role during the traditional Japanese Tea ceremonies. Why? Well I’ve found the perfect description on the following website: http://epicureandculture.com/sweet-japan-what-is-wagashi/
“It is very important that the guest feels welcome during these ceremonies in accordance with the season. Wagashi not only adds sweetness to the palate to combat the bitterness of the green tea, but is also made to reflect the season, i.e. maple leaf shapes for fall and plum flower designs for spring. In essence, it’s not just a dessert, but an art.”
We couldn’t say it more accurate.
Noriyuki: the photographer
It’s obvious that Noriyuki grew up surrounded by flowers and beauty, so it’s not a big surprise he wanted to catch this beauty on film, sort of speak.
In 2001 he started his own Graphic Design Office, named Studio Home Design in Yokkaichi. He’s not only the art director there but also takes all the pictures himself. As we all know, a good design needs a good picture and vice versa.
How did he come up with taking pictures of waterlilies as a hobby?
“One day, when I dropped by a flower shop for a certain coverage, a salesclerk recommended tropicals casually. I was enchanted by them and I thought I could encounter the subject which I really wanted to photograph. The waterlily, her richness in color comes up from shinning surface vigorously as if it repels brilliant rays of the sun.”
Under sunlight changing every second, he looks into a viewfinder in order to capture its strong hold on life and delicate figure.
Noriyuki uses different cameras to obtain his objectives, among them Canon’s as well as Phase One’s,… To him any time of day is a perfect time to take pictures of waterlilies, because waterlilies change all the time and each moment has it’s own beauty.
Why we are a fan of his work?
Well, Noriyuki is able to capture the beauty of waterlilies in a very unique but especially simple way. Each picture evolves around the waterlily, it’s an ode to the simple beauty of the flower. Even more so, because Noriyuki prefers to take pictures of very basic waterlilies, not to many petals, not to over the top. Therefore he is also a big fan of the species and I agree there is a need of good pictures of those!
Just look at the picture on the left, a perfect example of his skills as photographer, hybridizer and yes cat owner!
Noriyuki: the hybridizer
But of course, he is not only a brilliant photographer, he is also a hybridizer!
We always wonder which waterlily was the first one they had of each of the hybridizers we interview and almost every time we get the same answer, a nameless one or a mislabeled one 🙂 Noriyuki bought his first waterlily, which was a small hardy, without name, from a nearby flower shop.
It always amazes us how these unnamed or mislabeled ones still are able to enchant these buyers so they start collecting and hybridizing.
This one unnamed waterlily led to a list of more than 300 varieties of named waterlilies, that’s how many Noriyuki has collected and bought over the years. His list of wild species (his speciality) has more than 70 names on it! And finally there are also his own hybrids, as you can see in the list below, which contains more than 30 varieties. Of course to name new ones, you have to have a lot of seedlings first. He has more than 300 new waterlilies (from seed) that bloom every year. In addition, there are also waterlilies being observed at present, as numerous waterlilies are blooming in his green house.
- Nymphaea Jonathan 2016
- Nymphaea Hagoromo 2016
- Nymphaea Habutae 2016
- Nymphaea Yako 2016
- Nymphaea Bonten 2016
- Nymphaea Ochobo 2016
- Nymphaea Eyelashes 2015
- Nymphaea Shizuku 2015
- Nymphaea Pucchi 2015
- Nymphaea Drops 2015
- Nymphaea Purin 2015
- Nymphaea Ten 2015
- Nymphaea TenTen 2015
- Nymphaea Ichigo 2015
- Nymphaea Kamuro 2015
- Nymphaea Asagi 2014
- Nymphaea Akane 2014
- Nymphaea Sabao 2014
- Nymphaea Nasubi 2014
- Nymphaea Sakura 2014
- Nymphaea Ring Pop 2014
- Nymphaea Miyabi 2nd 2014
- Nymphaea Mizore 2014
- Nymphaea Rakugan 2014
- Nymphaea Temari 2013
- Nymphaea Poppy 2013
- Nymphaea Purin
- Nymphaea Giyaman2013
- Nymphaea Vidro 2013
- Nymphaea Miroku 2013
- Nymphaea Haku 2013
- Nymphaea Julie 2012
- Nymphaea Salie 2012
- Nymphaea Miyabi 2012
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What kind of waterlily would you like to create?
“I would like to create a waterlily with a clear concept and originality. They have to be easy to cultivate, so more people will be able to grow them at home.”
He only uses wild species (which he collects himself in the wild) to create his beauties and he chooses them carefully for certain purposes.
All we can say is that Noriyuki is as considerate in creating his waterlilies as he is in his daily life. Wanting that as many people as possible can enjoy the beauty of waterlilies in real time or in pictures!
Discover Noriyuki’s websites
You can also check the following websites if you would like to see more from this wonderful artist!
http://www.noriyukikato.com/english/profile_english.html
http://miroku-lab.com/miroku-lab-hybrids
http://www.colorata.info/my-hybrid
Discover Noriyuki’s book
Yes, Noriyuki Kato owns a design company, he takes amazing pictures of waterlilies and he even hybridizes. But that’s not all, he also wrote his own book on caring for waterlilies, with of course wonderful pictures of the master himself. The book is called: Sodatete mitai utsukushi suiren : Chisana hachi ya beranda demo tanoshimeru and you can buy it here https://www.amazon.com/Sodatete-mitai-utsukushi-suiren-tanoshimeru/dp/4259564455/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1483994397&sr=8-2&keywords=noriyuki+kato
Yes it’s in Japanese, but the pictures alone are worth buying it 🙂