Cherry Blossom Garden Nursery Landscaping Guide
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Cherry Blossom Season In Japanese Culture
By Suzzie T Franklin
Cherry blossom trees are popular around the world. They seem
to be most significant in Japan where they symbolise a kind of
lifestyle and amount to a religious event, with popular celebrations
and hope for the future.
The cherry blossom season in Japan is covered by a festival where
crowds gather at parks all around the country to celebrate the
event.
It is at the centre of the celebration of culture and religion
in Japan, a period of renewal, during the cherry blossom season.
The Japanese have a respect for beauty and nature that is reflected
in their culture and everyday life. Nothing is more significant
to them than the Sakura, which is the name they give to their
cherry blossom trees.
The flowers symbolize the brief cycle of life and renewal. The
tree is a frequent motif on clothes and household goods.
My husband and I were fortunate to visit Japan a few years ago.
We were advised to go during the cherry blossom season. This is
a movable feast, with the flowering moving steadily across the
country.
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We timed our visit during the blossom season, staying in a Tokyo
suburb during April. We first saw it in Oueno Park, a famous location
for hanami, which is the name given to looking at the flowers.
The local population visits places specifically to view the blossom.
There they were in the park, dozens of people holding up their
mobile phones and cameras to take pictures.
Different Varieties of Sakura
There are different varieties of Sakura, including one that resembles
a weeping willow. The flowers are white, pink or white tinged
with pink. They are truly beautiful, especially when seen against
the backdrop of a shrine or temple.
Cherry blossom is so much a part of the Japanese soul that it
is referenced in paintings and songs. Even manga comics and anime
films use it as a metaphor. There are Hanami Festivals and many
parents name their girls, Sakura.
During World War II, kamikaze pilots would paint Sakura on the
side of their planes. These pilots did volunteer for suicide missions
but their elders pushed them in that direction by persuading them
that it was a noble thing to do.
Being honorable meant everything to the young men and they were
told that they would be re-incarnated as the blossom; such would
be their reward.
Hanami
As a unifying symbol for all the people, I can’t think of anything
equivalent in any other country. The young seem to enjoy Hanami
as much as the older generation.
It’s certainly true that no one could be miserable when looking
at cherry blossom. When I see blossom in my own country now, I
am instantly taken back to that Japanese park and all the smiling
faces there.
They were simply happy that the Sakura had lived up to its promise
once again and filled their lives with color and scent.
Cherry blossom is such a cultural event in Japan, one may even
say it is as significant as Thanksgiving or Independence Day is
in the United States. People everywhere in Japan, spend this period
celebrating the cherry blossom and they look forward to such an
event.
It only happens once a year. But then so is Thanksgiving and
Independence Day.
About the Author:
Suzzie T Franklin has written a number of articles on gardening
and landscaping including
The Japanese Garden,
Bonsai Trees,
Bonsai Plants,
Outdoor Bonsai Trees,
Indoor Bonsai Trees,
White Flowers,
Fruit Trees,
Tole Painting,
Lady Slipper Flower,
Plastic Flower Pot,
Zen Garden,
Wire Topiary Frames,
Window Bird Feeders,
Planting Guide,
Flower Seeds,
Gardening Vegetable,
Garden Furniture.
Keep a lookout for more of her articles on this website.
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