The Fleeting Beauty in Ono no Komachi’s Verse
hana no iro wa utsurinikeri na itazura ni waga mi yo ni furu nagame seshi ma ni
the beauty of cherry blossoms
has passed its peak
in vain
while I looked idly
at the endless rain
Ono no Komachi
Translation of Hyakunin Isshu by
Emiko Miyashita and Michael Dylan Welch
<Modern Interpretation>
The delicate color of cherry blossoms has faded, worn away by the long rains of spring.
Just as, before I even realized it, my own beauty too has withered, consumed by thoughts of love and the burdens of the world.
Ono no Komachi (dates unknown)
A renowned poet of the Heian period, Ono no Komachi is celebrated not only for her deeply expressive waka poems, but also for her legendary beauty. Her name, "Komachi," remains a synonym for feminine elegance and grace in Japan even today. Many of her poems convey the joys and sorrows of love, as well as the impermanence of life with exquisite sensitivity. Among them, this particular verse included in the Hyakunin Isshu is especially well known.
In this poem, Komachi likens the fading cherry blossoms—drenched and scattered by spring rain—to the passing of youth and beauty, capturing the poignant truth of impermanence through the lens of nature.
The ring 「仄桜 -HONOSAKURA-」is inspired by this very poem, representing the “spring” of the four seasons, and the “flower” of Kachō Fūgetsu, the traditional Japanese appreciation of nature’s beauty. Its design focuses on the ephemeral nature of cherry blossoms falling in the rain—ephemeral, yet radiant. It is a tribute to the fleeting beauty that exists precisely because it cannot last.
About the Design of 「仄桜 -HONOSAKURA-」
The outer band of the ring depicts cherry blossoms scattered across a water surface, with gentle ripples etched to evoke the quiet scene described in the poem. Rather than portraying the peak of full bloom, the design focuses on petals fallen into puddles after the rain—emphasizing the sorrowful beauty and transience captured in the waka.
On the inner band, delicate engravings in gold leaf represent the ever-falling spring rain, illustrating the setting of "long rains" (nagamé) mentioned in the poem. Together, the exterior's tranquil water and the interior’s rainfall form a unified world—a ring that embodies the entire emotional and visual landscape of the verse.
The placement of the cherry blossoms is also intentional. By leaving open spaces and avoiding a densely packed composition, the design enhances the sense of ephemerality and stillness expressed in the poem. While cherry blossoms are traditionally admired from below as they bloom above, this design reverses that perspective—mirroring the downward gaze of Ono no Komachi herself, reflecting on beauty lost and the quiet melancholy of impermanence.
Craftsmanship and Highlights of 「仄桜 -HONOSAKURA-」
The creation of「仄桜 -HONOSAKURA-」involved the use of advanced inlay techniques, particularly a method known as Takaniku Zōgan (Raised Inlay). In this technique, the inlaid parts (such as the cherry blossoms) are not only embedded into the surface but also further sculpted afterward, requiring exceptional carving skill and precision.
In standard metalwork, it is common to apply heat to weld and decorate the inlaid parts after insertion. However, tantalum reacts differently: when exposed to flame, it forms a dense oxide layer that dulls the metal’s natural beauty. For this reason, applying heat after inlay is not possible. Instead, the decorative elements must be carefully pre-treated with heat and then inlaid, followed by meticulous hand-carving to preserve the integrity and finish of the pre-decorated surfaces.
Special attention was also given to color expression. To evoke not flamboyance but fragility, the design is centered around the soft white hue of platinum. Accents of gold and pink gold are used sparingly, creating a restrained and refined palette. This choice captures the scene of rain-soaked, falling cherry blossoms—an atmosphere unique to 「仄桜 -HONOSAKURA-」, where beauty is found in quiet impermanence.
Details of 「仄桜 -HONOSAKURA-」
Primary Material: Tantalum (Ta)
Decoration: Platinum (Pt), Pink Gold (PG), Yellow Gold (YG), Pure Gold Leaf
Techniques: Takaniku Zōgan (Raised Inlay),Rōnagashi Zōgan (Melted-Metal Inlay), Gold Leaf Application, Laser Engraving
Size: JP Size 22 / Width: 10 mm
Price: ¥970,200 (tax included)
※This is a one-of-a-kind piece.
Please note that size adjustments or custom modifications are not available.
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