"Blue Wave"
This textile design is based on the kimono pattern worn for a Japanese court dance of the same name.
The blue sea with the calm motion of its waves reminds me of quotidian peacefulness. Because of that, the blue wave has become a auspicious symbol that is evocative of every season. I used to think the pattern is very Japanese, but in fact it originates from Sassanid Persia.
(Katsuji Wakisaka, the textile designer)

文月のテキスタイルデザインは「青海波」。
舞楽「青海波」の装束に使われた文様が起源となっている伝統的な柄です。
夏の和菓子に多用される寒天を使って、波おだやかな海と光る水面を表現した涼しげな御菓子を作りました。
---------------
The textile design for July is "blue sea wave" The pattern originated from the pattern on kimono worn for a traditional court dance.
We used Kanten Jelly, a popular summer ingredient, and created a refreshing wagashi that expresses the calm sea and shining surface of water.

斜め二層に分かれているお菓子の上半分は、レモンの果汁と皮をたっぷり使ったさわやかな寒天、下半分は寒天に白小豆を混ぜ込んだ、あっさり味の夏らしい羊羹です。
お菓子の上の飾る黄色いマルは、レモン果汁とみかん蜂蜜が入った羊羹を凍らせたものです。
---------------
The upper half layer of two slanted layered wagashi is made of a summery flavored Kanten Jello with a lot of of lemon juice and lemon zest.
The lower layer is made of a subtly flavored yokan jelly made of mixed kanten and white beans.
The yellow dots that decorate the top surface of the wagashi is frozen yokan made of lemon juice and orange honey.

京菓子老舗長久堂とのコラボレート。1年の移ろいをポップなテキスタイルデザインで表現し、和菓子に落とし込みました。
------
We collaborated with famous Kyoto patisserie Choukyudou.
Our pop vibrant textile design reflect changes in the seasons and these are also expressed in our wagashi.

平成21年『PHPスペシャル』に毎月連載していた、『SOU・SOUだより』。
移ろい行く四季の和花を和菓子で表現しました。
------
SOU・SOU's textile designer Katsuji Wakisaka has been publishing new textile design on monthly magazine, "PHP Special". The seasonal changes are expressed in our wagashi.

京菓子老舗『亀屋良長』さんとのコラボレート。
日本の歳時記を表現したテキスタイルに合わせて和菓子を製作しました。
------
We collaborated with The noted Kyoto patisserie Kameya Yoshinaga.
Together we created wagashi that emphasize Japanese seasonal changes as well as our graphic textile prints.

華道家元池坊直営・日本華道社出版『四季の花手帖』で発表した12ヶ月の花を和菓子にしました。お菓子の製作は、京菓子の老舗『亀屋良長』さん。
------
SOU・SOU designed a new flower design corresponding to each month of the year in "Flower Notes For the Four Seasons', the booklet published by Nihon Kadou Sha, operated by Ikenobo*.

Ikenobo*
Ikenobo is the original school that produced ikebana (traditional Japanese Buddhist floral design) as a unique artform in Japan
over five centuries ago and continue to spread awareness and knowledge of the ikebana tradition worldwide.