An old Japanese word for spring is sakura-doki or "cherry blossom time" - an indication of the age-old Japanese passion for cherry blossoms and the special delight felt in viewing them at ohanami (flower-viewing) parties under the trees and in the parks with pick-nicks, drinking, singing, etc. These parties begin as early as 10 AM. People enjoy wearing ridiculous masks and fantastic costumes aimed at provoking laughter and good fellowship. When the season is in full swing, parties of amateur musicians may be seen tripping to the twang of the shamisen, trying to recapture the atmosphere of the old Edo period when life ran smoothly in the old groove.
For more than one thousand years, the tender blossoms have been loved by the people of Japan. The very word "sakura" stems from the word "sakuya", which means blooming. Named after the Princess Kono-han-sakuya-Hime (tree-flower-blooming-princess) who is enshrined on top of Mt Fuji, who according to legend dropped from heaven onto a cherry tree, this love is long-rooted in history. She is the daughter of the mountain god O-Yama-Tsu-Mi. She married Ninigi, the grandson of Amaterasu.
The importance of the sakura is depicted in poetry and paintings as well as decorative items such as laquerware and kimono. Even in the Japanese language the word "hana", which means flower, usually refers to the cherry blossom solely, as does the word "hanami" (flower viewing), which is used only for the cherry blossom.
For as long as anyone has been able to record, the Sakura no Hana (cherry blossoms) has been seen as the national flower of Japan. The Japanese love this flower for its beauty, it is seen as such a delicate flower also the flowers life is very short and when the pedals begin to fall only then can you apprecieate the fleeting beauty of this flower.
The cherry blossom festivities in Japan are equally as important. As spring approaches, it is customary for the people to guess when the trees will blossom. The forty-day sakura zensen, or cherry blossom front, extends from Kyushu to Hokkaido, and the sakura matsuri is a time to enjoy the rare beauty with friends, family and even co-workers. Many shops and companies close early to enjoy a picnic next to a tree lined river or mountainside (which usually turns into an all night party). Of course, there are many different types of sakura with blossoms of varying shades, from hot pink to white.
There are over 100 different varieties of the flower, and they bloom on mainland Japan anywhere from March in Kyushu to May in Hokkaido. Millions of people will make pilgrimages to famous viewing sights every spring to enjoy this fleeting beauty.
Here in Okinawa, the cherry blossoms arrive earlier than on the mainland. The buds will begin to show in late January or early February, and there is an annual festival that takes place in Nago during the last weekend of February. There a few places in Nago that are well worth dodging through traffic to veiw and stroll about the cherry blossoms. One is the Nago Castle ruins, where an annual festival is held and the other is Nakajin Castle, that generally has several rows of cherry trees to stroll around or to simply picnic underneath.
When these things start to blossom be warned it tends to draws large crowds from around the world so prepare for the inevitable parking and traffic good times. Stay in touch with the Virtual Ginza and we will try to keep you informed on times, dates and specifics to help you enjoy the Cherry Blossoms.
The petal blossoms of the sakura are also used in ceremonial events such as weddings. The blossoms are preserved in salt and made into a drink called akurayu, which is served as a prayer for a happy marriage. During the Girl's Day Festival in March, sakura mochi (a dumpling with sweet beans wrapped in a pickled cherry tree leaf) is eaten as well.
The date when the Cherry Blossoms reach peak bloom (70% of the blossoms open) varies from year to year, depending on weather conditions. Cherry Blossom Festival dates are set based on the average date of blooming, but nature is not always cooperative. Unseasonably warm and/or cool temperatures have resulted in the Cherries blooming early and late.
It is impossible to make an accurate prediction on the blooming dates much earlier than 10 days prior to peak bloom. However, you may be able to make a prediction on when the trees will bloom based on the 5 stages of flower bud development.
Specifically:
Each blossom, once open, can last for 4-10 days with the blooming period lasting 10-14 days; however, cool or high temperatures combined with wind and/or rain can shorten this period.
Sakura, which is generally believed to be a corruption of the word "sakuya" (blooming) from the name of Princess Kono-hana-sakuya-Hime, who is enshrined on the top of Mt. Fuji. This long name literally means tree-flowers-blooming-princess," for the cherry blossom was so well known in those early days in Japan that the flower meant nothing but the cherry. This princess was so named because, it is said, she dropped from heaven upon a cherry tree. Hence, the cherry blossom is considered to be the national flower of Japan. The cherry is extensively cultivated in Japan, though it grows wild on plains and in deep mountains in the country. When forty or fifty years old, it is some thirty of forty feet high, with a trunk three, four, or even six or eight feet in circumference.
The cherry symbolizes the national character of the Japanese. This is because the life of a samurai of feudal times was proverbially compared to the short-lived cherry-blossoms, which last "no more than three days," for our samurai was always fully prepared to sacrifice his life at any time in the cause of his master. Another saying is that what "the cherry is among flowers is the samurai among men."
The Japanese are proud of their Sakura, because no other people have it. Sakura is quite different from the cherry blosoms of other countries. To differentiate it from the fruit bearing varieties seen in many countries, Japanese Sakura are called Japanese Flowering Cherry in English.
Thus, it is quite natural that the blossom has become the national flower of the country, and since very early days, the people have expressed their love and admiration of the flower in various ways; poets and artists have always been eager to depict the loveliness of the blossom in words and colors. Sakura is called the flower of flowers, and when the Japanese use the word 'hana' (flower), it means Sakura.
Sakura is also used in various different Japanese delicacies: salted cherry blossom flowers are used for tea named "Sakura-yu". The double petal blossoms are preserved in salt for making a refreshing drink by floating a few blossoms in a cup of hot water. It is served on felicitous occasions such as the first meeting of a would-be bride and groom. During Girl's Doll Festival in Ilarch, confectioners carry a stock of sakura mochi, a dumpling containing sweet bean paste wrapped in a pickled cherry leaf.
Sakura also has an emotional connotation with the Japanese. When you ask Japanese people about the memory of the entrance ceremony for schools, many people would answer the beautiful "Sakura". The entrance ceremony is an important event to the Japanese. It is held in the beginning of April. Currently, there is a lot of controversy about changing the opening of schools to September in order to start at the same time as most Western countries (it would be convenient for the students studying abroad or for the foreign students studying in Japan). Many Japanese people are against this proposal. The reason? They love "Sakura" so much which is the symbol of the entrance ceremony.
Sakura has also become part of several words in the Japanese language. For instance, "Sakura" has become a color. When it used in this connotation, is refers to a pale pink color, the color of "Sakura" flower. Here are some words which has "sakura" in them:
