| NAGASAKI, Dec. 10 – “Sakura+ (sakura plus),” a vocational support center for persons with disabilities in Omura City, Nagasaki Prefecture, is making flower resin jewelry using locally-produced carnations. Several local corporations are placing orders for the attractive regional products.
Sakura+ purchases carnations directly from local growers and places them in silica gel to make colorful dried flowers. Then, it casts the flowers in resin using molds and polishes to produce authentic flower accessories. Responding to new orders, Sakura+ expanded the lineup to include brooches, for example. So far, it has received orders for more than 300 products. The vocational training center began making items using agricultural products approximately two years ago. In collaboration with local farmers, it has created products with mandarin oranges, peanuts, and rice, and added carnation products last year. “The program can effectively raise trainees’ wages and promote agricultural products,” said Tomoko Hayashi, office manager, proudly. |
Accessories with locally-grown carnations have become popular regional products (in Omura City, Nagasaki Prefecture).