The Blooming Flowers in Everyone’s Memories

This article was originally published in the November/December 2008 issue of The ROYAL.

The ROYAL SIGN
－Treasure Hunting at the RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka－

　People who have known the RIHGA Royal Hotel for a long time have told me that they remember a particular design everywhere throughout the hotel. Was it Lily of the Valley? Or was it Iris? The design in question, in fact, was modeled after Kakitsubata (Rabbit-ear Iris).

　As far as I know, this Kakitsubata design can currently be found on the lights near the porte-cochère and the glass door at the front entrance.

　Naturally, the design has gotten me very curious, and I decided to ask around some RIHGA Royal Hotel fans. One person remembered that the design had different versions and that they could be found on the upper part of the building and under the roof. Another person recalled that the design was printed on the coaster from the restaurant garden. Furthermore, the design of the Korin banquet hall was entirely inspired by Kakitsubata and there used to be a Japanese lounge called Kakitsubata at the back of the first floor. Although we cannot be sure that these recollections are accurate, it is indeed true that the design has left a mark on the memories of many of the RIHGA Royal Hotel’s visitors. The Kakitsubata design is unique, and its purpose is clearly different from that of the brand logo, whose mission is to be easily recognized. Like the pale purple flowers of Kakitsubata, the Kakitsubata design blooms softly in everyone’s memories.

Text by Ko Hiroki
Photography by Harry Nakanishi

This article was originally published in the November/December 2008 issue of The ROYAL.