Hello everyone. How are you doing? The rain that had been falling for days has finally stopped, but in exchange, we are having sweltering, humid days. When I go outside, I feel the thick, muggy moisture all over my body, as if I have stepped into a bathroom. In this heat, the bellflowers blooming in my garden are truly soothing. The combination of the cool purple flowers and green leaves is captivating. When the petals are wet with rain, they have a somewhat ephemeral and romantic atmosphere. Speaking of bellflowers, the most famous association is surely the bellflower crest of Akechi Mitsuhide. It is said that Mitsuhide instigated the Honno-ji Incident around this time of year back in 1582. The Honno-ji Incident is a major turning point in history that is still discussed today in dramas, movies, and novels. It feels quite mysterious that the time of year when bellflowers bloom coincides with that historic event. It is fascinating to be reminded of a mysterious, monumental event from hundreds of years ago by such a small flower. Because of our deep connection to plants and flowers, I think they serve as a trigger to recall history, much like a pressed flower bookmark. This is likely because, just as they do today, these flowers have continued to bloom in the fields since ancient times.