Between 22nd – 28th May the streets of Chelsea will once again be adorned with magnificent floral displays from around 100 retailers for the highly-anticipated ‘Chelsea in Bloom’ installations, celebrating this year’s theme ‘Flowers on Film’. Having been awarded gold medals for their displays in both 2021 and 2022, Sticks’n’Sushi are aiming to maintain their winning streak as they pay homage to the incredible work of Japanese filmmakers with the creation of a 4.8m tall floral samurai warrior rising proudly outside their King’s Road restaurant.
‘The Last Samurai’ will hold a spear appearing to “smash” through the window leading to an internal display of hanging Japanese and Danish floral flags, symbolising the restaurant’s dual heritage. Long present in Japanese cinema, samurais are an important symbol of early-modern history and often are depicted in film through tales of loyalty, discipline, respect and solidarity – values shared by the Sticks’n’Sushi brand.
The Japanese Nordic restaurant group has once again partnered with leading florists In Water Flowers to create this stunning arrangement which promises to bring to life the delights of the Japanese silver screen, celebrating one of the oldest and largest film industries in the world. The display is made from a combination of both dried and fresh flowers, with a variety of sustainably sourced bamboo and juncus plants at the base of the installation outside the restaurant. The samurai itself will be made up of detailed, intricate flora, including vibrant red and orange carnations, 1400 dried Dahlia heads, foliage of aspidistra and soft ruscus and 800 stems of Limonium in sunset hues of pinks, peach, white and yellow.
“A perfect blossom is a rare thing. You could spend your life looking for one. And it would not be a wasted life.”
Inspired by this quote from The Last Samuari, Sticks’n’Sushi have created a beautiful cocktail to celebrate the Chelsea in Bloom week which embodies their belief in taking time to appreciate beauty and savour moments of joy and tranquillity. ‘Katsumoto’s Flower’ is made with a delicate mix of Japanese Haku vodka, jasmine liquor and hibiscus syrup, shaken with lychee, lemon & egg white to form a blend of fresh, floral flavours.
