Perhaps sensing something, the cat sought affection from the morning. When this particular cat—orange, occasionally ill-tempered, and prone to petting-induced aggression (you know the type, the one that starts to gently nip while you're petting it)—is in full cuddle mode, I can't help but pick her up and pet her. She becomes quite calm and relaxed when held like a baby, which is utterly endearing and fills me with oxytocin. She's also incredibly vocal, constantly meowing even when she's sitting on my desk while I'm working.

 

However, that day I had to go out for a health check-up, and I was busy with preparations like filling out various forms from early morning. I left with a small, stone-like weight in my heart, contemplating the possibility of something being found. As it turned out, the examination finished within a few hours, and since it was a clinic where they could give me the results on the spot, I had a pleasant return journey after hearing their reassuring words: "No abnormalities!"

 

I adore flowers. I find myself wanting to know the names of even the nameless wildflowers growing by the roadside. I use a flower identification app on my smartphone, which is very useful. There's a spot in my kitchen where I display flowers, and noticing it was looking a bit sparse, I stopped by a local florist. While one or two stems would have been enough, new flowers always bring a sense of freshness. It was a large chain florist, but they occasionally have unusual varieties. Modern flowers are constantly changing their forms, with so many cultivars developed that it's almost concerning. Flowers that were originally single-petaled have become double, and the size of individual blooms can vary significantly.

 

Today, I encountered for the first time what appeared to be a derivative of a carnation, a small, double-flowered Dianthus in shades of red, pink, and pale crimson, and a flower called Shikin-karamatsu (purple-patterned larch). Even with recent cultivar development, you can often discern the original flower if you look closely. Shikin-karamatsu is a vibrant purple and very charming, so I initially thought it might be a new creation, but I realized its parent was a woody plant, though I couldn't quite identify the original species.

 

Finally, I asked a shop assistant and learned it belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. Further research revealed it's a plant that grows wild in the mountains and fields of several neighboring prefectures. Its naturally lovely form and color, not a result of cultivation, strongly appealed to me, so I decided to arrange it in my kitchen. In its wild state, the purple sepals (which look like petals but are actually sepals) are round and soft like water droplets, and as they open, a vivid yellow peeks through from within. It's a truly charming, flower-like bloom. I can only imagine the delight of encountering such a flower in the wild.

 

This encounter today lifted my spirits and energized me. I believe many people love flowers, and their forms, fragrances, and even their "presence" seem to invigorate those in their vicinity. Flowers are nourishment for the soul. Meeting a beautiful flower makes my heart flutter. However, I must be cautious, as cats tend to nibble on these delicate blooms.

 

*Buttercups are old yellow flowers said to resemble horse hoofprints. Recent cultivars commonly found in flower shops include ranunculus. Of course, I am not an expert, merely a flower enthusiast, so there's a possibility of inaccuracies in my information.

 

 

Akiko Shibauchi
Director of Akasaka Animal Hospital. After graduating from Nihon University's College of Bioresource Sciences, she worked in research at the Clinical Pathology Laboratory at Nihon Veterinary and Zootechnical College before becoming director of her current hospital in 2016. As the third-generation director, following her father and mother, she promotes companion animal medicine and veterinary care centered on the "Human Animal Bond." Her specialties include internal medicine, general surgery, and regenerative medicine. She has also served as a former member of the Veterinary Affairs Council of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and as a part-time lecturer at the Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University. She is dedicated to social contribution through veterinary medicine, including support for the coexistence of the elderly and animals, and animal therapy activities, with the lifelong theme of "creating a society where humans and animals can live happily together."