Okay. So this post took a little longer than I initially expected for a few reasons.The main reason being that I didn't have internet here the first couple of weeks and I couldn't find any field guides for the area, so I couldn't properly research this topic. So my first few weeks out here, I tried my best to explore my neighborhood and comment on what I saw. To my surprise, what I mainly saw in the area besides cherry blossoms were plants that looked very much like plants native to the Pacific Northwest. As a result, species I found in my earlier observations were in the genus Thuja, Rhododendron, Prunus, Pinus, Lupinus, Tulipa etc.
 Hey guys. So my first cultral blog about Japan is on (you guessed it) cherry blossoms. I arrived just as the cherry trees were reaching full bloom. I greatly enjoyed walking around and viewing these beautiful flowers and even took some great pictures (^o^). I talk a bit about this but I mainly wanted to share what I learned about cherry blossoms in Japanese culture, so here it goes:
In Japan, springtime is the time for new beginnings. It marks the start of the new school year as well as the fiscal year. Many also begin new jobs at this time. Spring is also the time of cherry blossoms (aka sakura「桜」). These flowers are the symbol change and new beginnings in the country, and are a major part of Japanese culture. For centuries, Japanese people have enjoyed viewing cherry blossoms. This custom is called Hanami (花見), and originated during the Nara period (710-784 A.D). It was initially enjoyed by the imperial court and people of very high social status.However, this tradition eventually shifted to a custom enjoyed by everyone during the Edo period (1603-1868), and is a major part of the culture today. This custom is so valued, special news reports regarding the "cherry blossom forecast" are watched closely by everyone to determine the best time to hanami. People usually celebrate this season by having a picnic with family and friends, but you can also just take a walk and admire the flowers as well. There are a few online guides on how to properly hanami. A nice one to look at is the step by step guide on japanican's website. | About this Blog
A recordings of my cultural explorations in Japan. Enjoy :) ArchivesFebruary 2014 Categories |
RSS Feed