Arrowhead

Arrowhead (ogi-no-ha) — the aquatic plant with its distinctive arrow-shaped leaves that bloomed in summer ponds and marshes — was a classic subject in Japanese botanical and seasonal art, associated with the Boys' Festival and the spirit of vigorous, direct forward movement implied by the arrowhead shape. Mori's rendering likely played on both the plant's decorative appeal and its symbolic resonance, the bold graphic form of the arrowhead leaf translating well into his stencil printing technique. The plant's watery habitat connected it to the summer season and the festival context he depicted throughout his calendar series.