In the rose garden at Honmaru in the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, featured last week, hamana roses bloomed beautifully in red. A rose despite names meaning "beach eggplant" or "beach pear" — Rosa rugosa, English name Japanese Rose. The fruit resembles pears; "hamanashi" became "hamanasu."
Hamana rose evokes Hokkaido via "Shiretoko Ryojo" and the film "Abashiri Bangaichi" — it is Hokkaido's flower. Native to Southeast Asia; common as street trees in the Netherlands since Siebold brought seeds.
Autumn fruit is rich in vitamin C, polyphenols, and may lower neutral fat — good for arteries and stroke prevention. Home cultivation is fine, but thorns are fierce — alias Hedgehog Rose. Pick fruit carefully.