This FUUKIRAN is named 'Shoujou' 猩々after the Japanese mythological spirit. Shoujou is a human-like sea spirit with long hair and red skin, who dresses in seaweed and lives in the ocean floor. Shoujou is known for making a drink form shiro sake that is poisonous only to those who are bad. To a good person it is a delicious drink. I like the use of Shoujou spirit name for this orchid! Although, it is often translated as "Red Face", a "faceless" name to me.
The plant has a beautiful presentation, with fairly narrow leaves positioned more or less straight. Flowers are light purple on a dark purple stem, hence the connection to the sea spirit. This FUUKIRAN originates from the island of Shikoku, the smallest of the four main islands of Japan.
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Neofinetia falcata 'Shoujou' 猩々 displayed in a Japanese pot by Youzan (Shimizu Masakazu) of Tokoname
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| Depiction of Shoujou as a character in a Noh theater play |
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| Noh theater mask worn by Shoujou character |
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* The characteristics used are of the plants that I own
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