The Japanese Pansies of Mr. Isao Sato

Photo by Fumie Amino

It is hard to fathom that a year has already passed since my trip to Japan to meet with Mr. Isao Sato. Mr. Sato has spent many years very carefully and intentionally breeding pansies and violas. They are so unique and fantastical, you almost have to convince yourself that they are real.  Their intensity of color and ruffling is jaw dropping.

I first learned about Mr. Sato’s pansies several years ago while researching specialty pansy varieties for my own cut-flower trials. I was truly in awe to see the varieties that he had introduced. With quite a bit of persistence, and some genuine luck, I was able to connect with Mr. Sato and received a very gracious invitation to visit his greenhouses. I flew out with my husband to Tokyo in late February of 2025, where we were met at the airport by Mr. Sato. He accompanied us by train to Takasaki, which happens to be home to the famous Daruma Doll, and is located in the Gunma Prefecture.

Photo by Fumie Amino

Upon arrival at his greenhouses, I was introduced to his wonderful team, who were an absolute pleasure to meet and spend time with. They graciously allowed me several hours to take well over 1000 photos in the greenhouse. The fragrance was intoxicating, as Japanese pansies (just like Italian pansies) are wonderfully fragrant. The Antoinette series is the most known, as they are very heavily ruffled. ‘Robe de Antoinette’  boasts countless shades including blush pink, smoky peach, and lemon cream. ‘Twilight’, known as ‘Dracula’ in Japan, bears darker shades including  rich eggplant, deep burgundy, and cabernet red. In addition, he has several spectacular violas, such as ‘Lapis Lazuli’, ‘Nouvelle Vague’, and ‘Aquarelle’. Mr. Sato spent well over a decade bringing forth his first unique varieties. All his pansies and violas are pollinated by hand, with the most exceptional being selected from thousands of seedlings each year. He credits time, observation and passion, to the spectacular colors he has been able to create. Mr. Sato advised me that he has no desire for mass production. His aim is to create “living art” through the power of genetics.

Pansies and violas, unlike other flowers, bloom in almost every color. This includes shades of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, white, grey, black, and brown. They are also capable of blooming with multiple colors on the same flower. Mr. Sato’s pansies and violas are a true testament to the range of color pansies are capable of blooming in, limited only, it seems, by our ability to draw them forth through such dedicated breeding efforts.

As if the beauty and fragrance weren’t enough to garner a full obsession, Mr. Sato’s Japanese pansies are also excellent cut flowers. After spending time with Mr. Sato and his team, I was introduced to a very experienced cut-flower grower who grows Mr. Sato’s pansies for the cut flower market and auction. I was accompanied through the process of harvesting and preparing the market bouquets, all of which had strong and sturdy stems a minimum of 12-14″long. It was reassuring for me to see the success of pansies as cut flowers on such a large scale.

After spending several days with Mr. Sato, my husband and I continued to travel across Japan for an additional week. We arrived home just days before the official publication of my book. It was especially exciting for me to be able to share all about the Japanese and Italian pansies at the book signings and presentations that followed. I knew people were going to want to know how to grow Mr. Sato’s pansies in their own gardens, so I continued to do my best to bridge the gap from my end.  Mr. Sato makes regular visits to Tagawa Gardens, in Colorado, where he apprenticed many years ago. Thus, Tagawa Gardens were the first to grow and offer Mr. Sato’s pansies to US growers. Plugs became available through Ball Seed beginning last spring, which then allowed additional nurseries and professional growers the opportunity to offer Mr. Sato’s pansies.

In July of 2025, I hosted Mr. Sato for his first trip the Pacific Northwest. While I was sure to spotlight a few of our most scenic treasures for him, such as Deception Pass, Snoqualmie Falls, and the view from atop the Space Needle, he was primarily here to meet with those most passionate about his pansies. He gave a very special talk that was graciously hosted by Christianson’s Nursery in the Skagit Valley, and brought beautiful photo books for all attendees showcasing his best varieties. Even Erin Benzakein of Floret made sure to come by and meet Mr. Sato. By fall, his pansies had begun to make their way into a few more nurseries around Seattle. Then fellow pansy lovers started to share seeing his pansies in nurseries all across the US.  Here we are now, on the brink of spring, and his pansies are in even more nurseries, selling out time and time again.

Mr. Sato deserves all the praise his pansies are receiving. He is such a genuine, passionate, humble and gracious man, whose love for what he does is so very evident. I feel very honored to have been  his guest, and in turn his host, repaying the kindness he showed me in Japan by helping introduce him, and his pansies, to my corner of the world and my audience within the flower community.

Whenever I share photos of Mr. Sato’s pansies there is an abundance of questions that follow about seed availability. Mr. Sato’s pansies are not available by seed. They are only available by plug and plant. At this time, he has three varieties available in the US. Mr. Sato has advised me that there are more varieties undergoing trials, and hopefully they will be available soon. I will be anxiously awaiting the chance to grow even more of these beauties in my own garden. I hope the love and appreciation for his pansies, and all pansies, continues to spread far and wide.

For more information on the availability of Mr. Sato’s pansies within the US, I recommend reaching out to Tagawa Gardens.

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