Lotus Time in Iwakuni

Lotus is a major crop in Iwakuni. Although the flowers are large and extremely beautiful, each only blooms one day. Lotus only bloom in late summer. Typhoon Nabi destroyed all the blooms, but this did not destroy the crops. The only parts of the plant used are the root, which is commonly used in many dishes; and the pods. After the flower falls off, the pods are dried & used in floral arrangements and decorations. I have heard that the Iwakuni lotus root is special, because it has 10 holes instead of the usual 8 grown everywhere else in Japan.