Renowned for their size and fragrance, roses from southwest China's Yunnan Province have become a sensation in Japan, attracting competitive bidding in its largest wholesale flower market, the Ota Market in Tokyo.
Each week, the market has two or three imports of these Chinese roses, with shipments now often exceeding 10,000 stems, catering to an increasingly appreciative consumer base.
"These roses from Yunnan can grow such big in just one year. They are noticeably larger than Japanese varieties, which is one of their distinctive features," said Jun Shishido, a manager at a floral wholesale company.
At the Ota Market, the auction for Yunnan roses is dynamic, with one purchase done in nearly every five seconds after an offer is started. Following the auction, secondary wholesalers will quickly distribute the flowers to various flower shops across Tokyo.
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