Spring has arrived !
In Japan, the cherry blossom is
more than just a beautiful
flowering tree. Sakura
has powerful ties to Japanese
history and culture.
It's a symbolic flower of the spring
and a time of renewal. While
American schools begin in the fall,
Japanese fiscal and school year
begins in April, the season of
Sakura. We feel like the fully
bloomed cherry blossoms are
celebrating and welcoming our
brand-new start.
Cherry blossom also symbolizes
the ephemeral nature of life
due to the way it blooms
spectacularly but only for a
short while. The transience of
the blossoms－their beauty and
quick passing－ has often been
associated with the idea of
"mono no aware" which is related
to deep feelings or a particular
sensitivity(perhaps even a kind
of sadness)regarding the
transience of things. In that way,
cherry blossoms became symbolic
within Japanese culture.
We have some theories on the
origins of the word Sakura.
But, it is said the combination
of "sa" the god of rice plant and
"kura", the seat on which the god
descends when the god comes to
villages in the spring.
Old Japanese saw the same spirit
in the Sakura and rice flowers.
The gods who lived in Sakura
trees in deep mountains came
down to the rice garden to give
a richer rice harvest.
For some people Sakura is just
a beautiful and short-lived gift
from nature, for others it is
a reminder each spring that life
is precious and short and must
not be wasted.
How do you enjoy Sakura?
In Japan, the cherry blossom is
more than just a beautiful
flowering tree. Sakura
has powerful ties to Japanese
history and culture.
It's a symbolic flower of the spring
and a time of renewal. While
American schools begin in the fall,
Japanese fiscal and school year
begins in April, the season of
Sakura. We feel like the fully
bloomed cherry blossoms are
celebrating and welcoming our
brand-new start.
Cherry blossom also symbolizes
the ephemeral nature of life
due to the way it blooms
spectacularly but only for a
short while. The transience of
the blossoms－their beauty and
quick passing－ has often been
associated with the idea of
"mono no aware" which is related
to deep feelings or a particular
sensitivity(perhaps even a kind
of sadness)regarding the
transience of things. In that way,
cherry blossoms became symbolic
within Japanese culture.
We have some theories on the
origins of the word Sakura.
But, it is said the combination
of "sa" the god of rice plant and
"kura", the seat on which the god
descends when the god comes to
villages in the spring.
Old Japanese saw the same spirit
in the Sakura and rice flowers.
The gods who lived in Sakura
trees in deep mountains came
down to the rice garden to give
a richer rice harvest.
For some people Sakura is just
a beautiful and short-lived gift
from nature, for others it is
a reminder each spring that life
is precious and short and must
not be wasted.
How do you enjoy Sakura?