Sakura, cherry blossom: the meaning of Life

 

.咲花やけふをかぎりの江戸住居

cherry blossoms–

I’ve been living in Edo

for this day! (Issa, haiku poem, 1807)

(

(Edo is present day Tokyo)

Sakura symbolize the life of a samurai: beautiful but brief, and they refer to the transience of life in Buddhist teachings. It is called a blizzard when the wind blows and petals fall.

Hanami: cherry blossom viewing. It is an act of faith, patriotism and reverence + a good reason to party!!

The least important person in an office hierarchy goes out first thing in the morning to secure a good “hanami” space. Office parties take place after work under the trees.

Family picnics, group field trips, and poetry writing groups gather. Websites are devoted to tracking the progress of cherry blossoms in every area of Japan. The weather forecast becomes a forecast of the effect weather is having on the blossoming times. Restaurants, bakeries and confectioners produce appropriately colored and decorated foods. Pink and white everything! Every conversation begins with a hope that one has seen sakura and it was pleasing.

Yesterday the sun peeped out and the cherry blossoms looked glorious. It was the best day for them in our area apparently and the place was thronged with sightseeing Japanese people. So here are a few of our photos for you to enjoy as we walked around the Imperial Palace.

Although there are thousands of people, there seems to be no need for crowd control despite these security measures!

Nightime viewing is especially dramatic – and here we are in Ueno Park, taking a selfie along with everyone else! The avenues are lined with 1,000 cherry trees all illuminated, and the parties are in full swing beneath them.

A few stops on the Ginza line to Asakusa and we found another top place for Hanami –  Sumido Park. As we walked along more avenues of cherry blossom and parties, we looked over the river and saw the Tokyo Skytree and the Asahi building.

So exciting! We wish you could also share how much fun it was to be a part of the crowds, to smell the blossoms, and to feel an absolute sense of safety and enjoyment.