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Low-hanging Fruit? Introducing the Rolls-Royce Phantom Cherry Blossom
In 1926, F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote a story with a couple of oft-quoted lines: “Let me tell you about the very rich. They are different from you and me.”
Apparently, not much has changed in the last 99 years. As if we needed a reminder, word comes from—who else?—Rolls-Royce about a “bespoke” car they just delivered to a customer in Japan. (“Bespoke,” of course, is wealthy-speak for, “A regular Rolls-Royce Phantom is not up to my standards. I must order one that is specially built.”)
And order this customer did, three years ago, according to Martina Starke, Rolls-Royce’s “General Manager for Bespoke Design,” suggesting that even a regular Rolls-Royce salesperson may not be qualified to take the order.

The car in question is called the Phantom Cherry Blossom, because it’s a Phantom, and the theme is cherry blossoms. To quote Ms. Starke: “Cherry blossoms are cherished in Japan as a symbol of the ephemeral nature of life and the beauty of transience. With this magnificent commission, we translate an internationally renowned moment into our pinnacle motor car, Phantom, with exquisite embroidery comprising more than 250,000 stitches.

“For the first time at Rolls-Royce, we have applied three-dimensional embroidery that gives the falling flower petals a tactile, sculptural quality. Developed using ancient Japanese stitching techniques, this motor car represents a deeply personal memory for the client and demonstrates the power of Bespoke in uniting individual meaning, heritage craftsmanship and modern artistry.”
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Officially—and it’s interesting that this is official, from the Japan Meteorological Agency—the 2025 cherry blossom season began on March 24, and ends sometime in April.
Said the Meteorological Agency: “The cherry blossom season announcement comes just a day after Japan witnessed its first bloom of the year in the southwestern city of Kochi, on the island of Shikoku.” This would suggest that Japan has stationed onlookers next to every cherry blossom tree in the country, including on its islands, to report the first blossoming. We’d never do this in America. (Ed: Well, on February 2 each year, we station people in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to stare at a groundhog hole.)
The Phantom Cherry Blossom has plenty of bespokedness, says Rolls-Royce. “Inside the motor car, intricate embroidery captures the sensation of sitting beneath a flowering tree during Hanami, just as the client envisioned.” Hanami is the “century-old tradition of ‘flower viewing,’” the company says.

Those Starlight Headliners, which, even when not bespoke, are pretty sensational, I can confirm from my limited exposure. For the Phantom Cherry Blossom, “The headliner is embroidered with cherry blossom flowers, formed of individual satin-stitch petals designed to capture the light at different angles with a jewel-like quality. The petals can be seen throughout the rear cabin, falling onto the doors and division of the motor car’s Privacy Suite.” There’s a Privacy Suite? I’m starting to really like this car.
Outside, “The Crystal over Arctic White coachwork incorporates a distinctive hand-painted coachline that elegantly tapers midway along the rear passenger door and features a delicate cherry blossom motif, an elegant preview of the artistry within.”

That even applies to the umbrellas that are stored in holes in both rear-passenger doors on all Phantoms. “Extending the Hanami theme, a falling petal motif appears on the inner lining of the Bespoke umbrellas, concealed within the motor car’s doors.” OK, that’s too much.
It would be more understandable if the Phantom Cherry Blossom had been commissioned by one of the billionaires who lives in, say, Needles, California, because he or she would seldom see cherry blossoms. But this customer actually lives in Japan, where cherry blossoms officially bloom every year, even on the island of Shikoku. Which is, and file this one away for your next trivia night competition, home to Mikuru Suzuki, the two-time Women’s World Darts Champion.

There is no price listed for the Phantom Cherry Blossom Rolls-Royce, but figure that the 2025 Phantom starts at $517,750, and work your way up from there.
Me, I’m waiting for the bespoke Punxsutawney Phil edition who, come to think of it, you don’t see much of in Needles, either.
It’s interesting but clearly I’m not in the market for a Phantom.
If it is for the Japanese marker, why was it ordered with left hand drive?? Just asking!!
One man’s meat…