桜　Sakura (Cherry Blossom)

1 st March – 弥生

March in Japan, many people imagine with 桜 (Sakura=Cherry blossom). Sakura inform us that the spring has come, bringing us happiness and joy.

The native Sakura species are 10 of them, and it cross-fertilized by nature and grow 100 more new species. Those naturally made Sakura are called 山桜 (Yamazakura). Then humans created 300 more new species and those are called 里桜 (Satozakura).

Each species blooms in the different times, and some are even blooming in autumn! Though, generally many of the species blooms in the spring times between March and April, and showing us beautiful pink and white colored flowers. Even after falling down, Sakura makes brilliant pink carpet on the ground which looks just amazing!

In the Sakura season, people look at Sakura and eatfood with friends, family, coworkers. This event is called 花見 (Hanami), people enjoy eating nice food with others and singing songs together.

In the old time, Hanami was done for different purpose. In the rice field farm, people used to believe that there are god for rice field = 田の神様 (Ta no kamisama). People were saying that the god goes up to the mountain while winter and comes back to the field in spring. So when the Sakura bloomed, they thought the rice field god came back to the field and treat the god nicely under the Sakura tree. At that time, they wished for the great harvest for the year.

Then the time passes by, it become what it is now! People enjoy eating the 三色団子 (Sanshoku-Dango) and singing with friends. Sanshoku-Dango has 3 color of round rice cakes, White expressing Winter, Pink implies Sakura and Green is made from mugwort as Summer.

However, Hanami causes problems recently: because of the bad manner.

Not all the people but some touch Sakura flower to take pictures, even break the blanch and take it to home. Many people leave the rubbish on the ground, not thinking about others. Also some just leave the blue sheets to hold the place and make others not be able to get close to sakura trees. When people get drunk, they fight or too many people go to do Hanami… Please do not cause any of those problems, think about the other people and the nature, let’s enjoy all together!

This year, it has been expected that in Kanto area Sakura is going to be bloom beautifully from late March to early April. In the Western area, it is going to be from early April to mid April. Note that each different species bloom at different timing though!

Sakura blooming is explained with 1 to 8 scales. 1 as 10% of Sakura has bloomed (一分咲き＝ichibu-zaki), and 8 as 80% of Sakura, meaning fully bloomed, 八分咲き (Hachibu-zaki) or 満開 (Mankai). Normally it is expected that once Sakura blooms, it takes 4 – 7 days to fully bloom, and falls after 10 – 14 days. After sakura flowers fall, there are going to have brilliant green leaves coming out, which are also gorgeous to see.