[Branching Produce Region Formation] Visiting Nara, a famous producing region for Japanese andromeda, again this year | July 2025

Representative Sato visited Nara Prefecture again this year for discussions regarding the shipment of "Asebi," one of the branch materials of midsummer.

Asebi is a type of evergreen tree that grows widely throughout Japan, but the variety with lovely small leaves, popular as ornamental cut branches, is said to be found only in Nara, Mie, and Wakayama prefectures.

At SiKiTO, to ensure a stable supply of high-quality Asebi, we have primarily sourced from producers in Nara Prefecture through the Naniwa Hana Ichiba in Kansai for the past two years.
During this year's visit, I was relieved to see the beautiful Asebi with its glossy leaves on site.

Even when we say "producers," Asebi is not cultivated in fields; rather, it is "wild-harvested" from trees growing in the mountains. Encountering snakes and bees on the pathless routes is a daily occurrence.

It makes you realize once again that nature is not always gentle.

For those not used to mountain paths, the journey to the Asebi growing area can be quite daunting...!

New shoots, which were pale red in early summer, turn yellowish-green as the season progresses, eventually becoming deep green. Asebi with deep green leaves can be displayed as a branch for a long time. We wait until that time to deliver them for our branch subscription service.

Since it grows in a largely untouched natural environment, inspections before shipment are even more thorough.

We hope to bring the essence of the mountains to your home!

Click here for the Asebi branch encyclopedia.