Japanese love of cherry blossoms

10 May 2011, Hokusou-hanano-oka Park, Chiba-ken
Cherry blossoms look like a mass of mist.



10 May 2011, Hokusou-hanano-oka Park, Chiba-ken
No festivals, nevertheless people come to admire
cherry blossoms. 



10 May 2011, Hokusou-hanano-oka Park, Chiba-ken
In a couple, in a small group ...



12 May 2011, Hokusou-hanano-oka Park, Chiba-ken
Some enjoy viewing them at night.



14 May 2011, Hokusou-hanano-oka Park, Chiba-ken
Cherry blossoms end by letting petals off like blizzard.



14 May 2011, Hokusou-hanano-oka Park, Chiba-ken
Fallen cherry blossom petals scattered on the ground.

Why do the Japanese love cherry blossoms so much?

There seem to be several important reasons, for example....

1. Time to get pepped up
In ancient Japan, more than 90% of our ancestors were rice-growing farmers. Blooming cherry blossoms meant it was time to start working on the rice paddies. To get pepped up for work, festive atmosphere of cherry blossom viewing must have been quite important.

2. Color of the cherry blossoms
The most favored cultivar of the cherry species is "somei-yoshino". The color of its flower petal seems almost pure white. But for the Japanese, it is pink. Pink represents life and vitality like slight flush appearing on pale skin. After long lifeless winter, now starts whole life again. This color naturally excites the Japanese, even makes them amorous.

3. Short life of the blossoms
After the first blossom, it takes about 10 days for the tree to become in full bloom. Then within a few days after full bloom, all the flowers are gone. In total, less than 2 weeks. So, in order not to miss the chance of viewing the year's blossoms at their best, the Japanese get hyper more or less.

4. Beautiful ending
Samurai who spent their life in battle fields hated anything ominous that suggested short life or losing head. For example, fish was always served with head. Serving fish without head was a serious affront. Even today, fish served with head is a widespread way. But even, samurai couldn't refuse the beauty of cherry blossoms. The made exception for cherry blossoms, saying "cherry blossoms teach us moral lesson. They teach us that we must die without hesitation when necessary. Look at the beautiful way of ending their life." Yes, cherry blossoms end in blizzard of petals. Very beautiful indeed.