The camellia is an evergreen tree with glossy deep green leaves. The vivid red color of the blossoms is very attractive in Japan’s wintertime, which has few flowers. Since the Edo period, it has been cultivated and loved, and many kinds of camellias have been developed. Each kind has its own color and shape of blossoms and time to bloom. You can see beautiful camellia blossoms from winter to spring.

“Tsubaki” is the Japanese word for “camellia.” There are some theories about the origin of the name. It may come from “Atsuba (thick leaves),” “Tsuyabaki (charming leaves),” or “Tsuyaki (glossy leaves).” In any case, some feature of the leaves seems to have influenced the naming.

A whole camellia blossom falls to the ground without warning. During the samurai period, the camellia was considered ominous because it was associated with beheading. Samurai had their heads severed to identify them when they were killed in battle. They were seldom planted in people’s gardens.

The oil is extracted from the seeds of camellia. In English, it is also called tea seed oil. The tea tree belongs to the camellia family. It is used for cooking, cosmetics, medicine, and soap. Tsubaki oil is good for keeping hair in good condition. Professional sumo wrestlers use this oil to style their hair, and when they are around, you will smell Tsubaki oil.

In tea ceremonies, some flowers should be arranged in a tearoom. In wintertime, the camelia is the only flower that blooms attractively and widely. The camelia is the main flower for tea ceremonies from November to March. It is called “the Queen of Tea Ceremony Flower.”

Tsubaki Places in Japan

-Goto Islands: This is one of the top two Camellia oil producing places in Japan along with Oshima islands, Tokyo. This oil was the offering for the Shogunate from Goto domain in the Edo period.

-Sakurajima Island: This island in Kagoshima produces camellia oils. The camellia is strong against the ashes from the volcano.   

-Higo Tsubaki: Higo is the old name for Kumamoto. It is one of Higo Six Flowers, cherished by the local people. Higo Six Flowers are morning glory, chrysanthemum, camellia, sasanqua, peony, and iris. 

-These are the places good for viewing camellia flowers.

  Jinoshima island, in Fukuoka

  Gongenyama Sea-Viewing Park, Nomozaki, Nagasaki

  Shiroyama Park, Nobeoka, Miyazaki

  Tsubakiyama Park, Miyazaki