Oga (or Ohga) sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is said that the ancient lotus species was discovered in the city of Chiba, Japan by Dr. Oga Ichiro. The seeds were found in a peat layer and estimated to be about 2,000 years old. He succeeded in germinating one of the seeds and bloomed it. The plants originated from this scred lotus were named Oga lotus after him. The plants were transplanted into 35 locations. One of them is here in the city of Nirasaki in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.
Sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelumbo_nucifera; https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/sacred_lotus.htm
Flowers and receptacles of the Oga sacred lotuses, Nirasaki, Yamanashi, 7/30/2025
https://history-here.com/en/stories/ohga-lotus; (In Japanese) https://www.nirasaki-kankou.jp/kankou_spot/kouen_bijyutsukan_shiryokan/kouen_teien/4330.html; https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A7%E8%B3%80%E3%83%8F%E3%82%B9
https://www.bbg.org/article/plant_profile_sacred_lotus_nelumbo_nucifera; https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?speciesID=244; https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/2/2/2257
Receptacle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Receptacle_(botany)
Water lily (Nymphaeaceae) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphaeaceae
Leaves of the water lilies, Nirasaki, Yamanashi, 7/30/2025
Sounds of the cicadas surrounding the scene: