The Benibana Museum (The Safflower Museum)
33. Life of Mogami-benibana (最上紅花の命脈)
Though benibana thoroughly lost its value of trading in Meiji era, some industry planners of Yamagata Prefecture exhibited the flower to the First Domestic Industry Exhibition, but the current of the times was unfavorable.
Meanwhile, some cultivators in Dewa Village (出羽村､現山形市), who continued to raise the flower, accepted the solicitations from the Imperial Household for Imperial Events. Both in 1908 and 1919, the people in Dewa dedicated an important part of duty.
At the beginning of Meiji era, the new government had the slogan : "Wealth and Military Strength". But "the Military Strength failed at the World War Ⅱ but the economic growth after the war are partly accomplished. Among the enriched society, benibana is counted as one of the beautiful colors and it can capture the appreciation mind of the beauty loving people again.