Takashi Murakami Instagram – On February 2, from 8 to 10 pm, a dinner party was held for my “Takashi Murakami: Mononoke Kyoto” exhibition, where about 5,000 cherry blossoms were in full bloom (80% of the flowers in bloom!) at once. Floral artist Makoto Azuma (AMKK) is the one who pulled off this tremendous feat. Makoto Azuma is a floral artist who has been creating flower arrangements in outer space, executing a large floral installation deep under the sea, arranging flowers in a frigid world of absolute zero, and growing plants in a kind of perpetually circulating nature device invented by humans long ago. He is an artist with a concept of symbiosis between humans and plants, who works with flower as his theme. Twenty years ago, when I received flowers from Mr. Koichi Inaba, the president of the management company of the folk duo, Yuzu, I was very much impressed; they were arranged by Mr. Azuma. Later, I saw Mr. Azuma in a TV documentary, sobbing and stomping in frustration. Intrigued by this very unusual person, I went to visit him at his studio in an old house in Azabu. I really wished to organize a dinner with cherry blossoms as the theme, so I approached Mr. Azuma around mid-December last year. He kindly and readily agreed and immediately got to work: He cut 5,000 Cherry branches, put them in a greenhouse, closely managed the temperature, and on February 2, the very day of the dinner, he made the cherry blossoms bloom at the optimal 80%. I guess he is what you would rightfully call a genius. He really realized an installation of cherry blossoms in full bloom, filling the venue with the smell of beautifully cut flowers, which left us gaping in awe. My sincerest gratitude, Mr. Azuma. @amkk_project @jardins.des.fleurs @azumamakoto @takashimurakami_mononoke_kyoto by #azumamakoto #amkk #amkkproject #shiinokishunsuke #naritaeri #cherryblossom #kyotocitykyoceramuseumofart #kyoto #art #TakashiMurakami #mononokekyoto