Shareholder meeting season. Tokyo Stock Exchange data show 718 of 1,341 listed companies (42%) held meetings on June 27, followed by 292 on the 26th (17.1%), 260 on the 25th (15.2%), 201 on the 21st (11.8%); on the last business day of June, the 28th, only 7 companies (0.4%) — one-hundredth of the previous day.
There was a time when finishing meetings quickly with applause supposedly affected managers' careers; to disperse power of corporate raiders, companies tacitly clustered meetings on certain month-end days. Concentration peaked around 96.2% in 1995. After the bubble burst, perhaps they hated scrutiny of bubble-era messes. With the shareholder-first trend, concentration fell below 90% in 1999 and kept declining — below 50% in 2008 (see TSE page "http://www.tse.or.jp/listing/sokai/shuchu/b7gje600000059q3-att/b7gje60000007s5o.pdf").
A key task at meetings is building management — selecting leaders. So this season brings a rush of new presidents; for congratulations, nothing beats phalaenopsis orchids. Several pots like the photo were delivered to companies in Palaceside Building this year too.
Why phalaenopsis? White means "purity," pink "love." The common meaning regardless of color: "happiness will come flying." Perfect for celebrations!
Other pluses: first, "luxury." Phalaenopsis for a business partner's presidential inauguration run from about ¥20,000, up to around ¥50,000 — quite a price. Flowers seem to have prices matching their tier — somehow easy to give as gifts.
Also,
· They last longer than arrangements or bouquets and can decorate an office for a while
· They have almost no scent, so placement is flexible
— more reasons they suit gifts.
Native to the Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, etc., blooming spring through autumn; in Japan greenhouse temperature control artificially schedules bloom for year-round shipment. Growers work hard on temperature, watering, repotting — not just sending fresh flowers but making them last.
I wish I were in a position to receive phalaenopsis! (Hmm, probably not ´_ゝ｀)