noun
floral raft; flower petals floating on water
Poetic image of flower petals fallen on water, resembling a raft. Used in traditional Japanese poetry and seasonal descriptions.
春の小川に花筏が流れている。
A floral raft is drifting on the spring stream.
noun
Helwingia japonica (shrub)
A shrub species native to East Asia. The name comes from the way its flowers appear to float on the leaves like a raft. Usually written in katakana as ハナイカダ.
ハナイカダは山地の林内に生える低木です。
Helwingia japonica is a shrub that grows in mountainous forests.
noun
oily perfume used under white makeup (archaic)
Archaic term for a scented oil applied beneath white face powder, historically used in traditional Japanese cosmetics.
江戸時代の化粧法では、白粉の下に花筏を塗ることがあった。
In Edo-period makeup techniques, 花筏 was sometimes applied under white face powder.
Literally 'flower raft'. The poetic sense comes from the visual resemblance of scattered petals on water to a raft. The plant name derives from the same image, as its flowers appear to float on the leaves. The archaic cosmetic term likely refers to the way the perfume spread like floating petals.