As I approach the end of my exchange trip and reminisce about all the adventures I had and things I saw, I wonder: what was with all the flowers?
Just a few of the many flowers you're likely to see here. | 
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No matter the location or season here in Japan, you can bet you will always see flowers. During my stay, I've seen them everywhere from gardens, parks and temples, to clothes, artwork and advertising. They're even common decoration on food! So it pretty much goes without saying that flowers are very loved here in Japan. But why exactly is that?
Well if I had to guess, I would say it's because of Japan's unique appreciation of nature. As I mentioned in my earlier post on Japanese conservation, people in Japan appreciate nature for mostly aesthetic reasons. If we were to compile a list of things in nature Japan loves, flowers would be somewhere at the top of that list. This is because flowers are not only beautiful to the country, but highly symbolic. They not only represent beauty, but impermanence. Happiness and sadness. Life and death. When flowers bloom, it is intense beauty,but this vibrance is short lived. Since the Heian period (794-1185) this has been observed through flower viewing (花見/hanami) and reflected on in poetry and artwork. People started to take this symbolism to heart and some-like the samurai- sought to live their lives in the same manner as a flower; short, but beautiful and intense. It may be because of this that Japan has grown so fond of flowering plants.
Well if I had to guess, I would say it's because of Japan's unique appreciation of nature. As I mentioned in my earlier post on Japanese conservation, people in Japan appreciate nature for mostly aesthetic reasons. If we were to compile a list of things in nature Japan loves, flowers would be somewhere at the top of that list. This is because flowers are not only beautiful to the country, but highly symbolic. They not only represent beauty, but impermanence. Happiness and sadness. Life and death. When flowers bloom, it is intense beauty,but this vibrance is short lived. Since the Heian period (794-1185) this has been observed through flower viewing (花見/hanami) and reflected on in poetry and artwork. People started to take this symbolism to heart and some-like the samurai- sought to live their lives in the same manner as a flower; short, but beautiful and intense. It may be because of this that Japan has grown so fond of flowering plants.
A Floral Calendar
Apart from the aesthetic and philosophical appeal of flowers, they're also a great way to get a sense of seasonal changes in Japan. I've been told there's a flower to represent each month here. The only time the focus shifts away from flowers is during fall (particularly October and November) when the public marvels at the crimson display of maple leaves (better known as 紅葉/momiji here).
| Japan guide has a good visual guide to the general blooming periods of Japan's most loved flowers here. If you'd like to see this floral calendar for yourself, there's no better way than to experience it yourself. Coming to understand Japan's love for flowers will not only help you better appreciate Japanese culture, but flowers as well. | Momiji; the honorary flower for the autumn months. |
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