The first blossom of the cherry tree...

[Kirie_Maiden]

Apparantly this happened yesterday in Japan (26th March) and it holds large significance. I am going to assume this is because it marks the final end of winter and beginning of spring, but I am unsure. Also, when the tree blossomed last year, the predictions for when it was supposed to happen were wrong and the guys had to apologise for being incorrect. Why is this? I was wondering why the prediction would hold so much significance.

[nice gaijin]

Lots of people plan their vacations and excursions to go see the cherry blossoms, and there's a lot of money tied up in it. Even company picnics are planned around the cherry blossoms. I was there when the predictions were wrong, and remember how everyone was just complaining about how long it was taking for the trees to blossom. Eventually we were treated to a spectacular show.

As an aside, the few cherry trees around here have already bloomed and shed their flowers.

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Indeed;

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/dabigginger/Bumblebee/cherryblossomviewing.jpg

Cherry blossoms are so beautiful :cool:

[Uncle Frank]

My cherry tree still has 3 feet of snow at the base and we have more snow coming tonight. I usually see blossoms the end of April or first of may here in Maine. The birds here eat the cherries all winter long to survive.

Uncle Frank

:(

[Kirie_Maiden]

That's a shame, Frank. Are you having a lot of snow over there, then?

I doo agree, Cherry Blossoms are beautiful (even though the are pink... *shudder), but do they hold some sort of religious significance?

[Tokis-Phoenix]

That's a shame, Frank. Are you having a lot of snow over there, then?
I doo agree, Cherry Blossoms are beautiful (even though the are pink... *shudder), but do they hold some sort of religious significance?


I dunno about religious significance, but i've heard that cherry blossom (and the butterfly) were favored in general by the samurai of olden times because they reflected how fleeting life/existence can be- perhaps there is Buddhist significance in this too and this is where religion comes into it? Hmm...

[nice gaijin]

They show up extensively in literature for the reason Tokis-Phoenix mentioned, but they aren't religiously symbolic in the same way as, say, a lotus blossom.

[Sarapva]

An interesting side note on Japan's cherry trees: Japan gave Washington, D.C. its cherry trees in 1912, which still blossom today. I think they're just beginning to blossom now, but are usually at their peak in April.

[GodEmperorLeto]

Here in Philly we have a bunch in Fairmount Park that were supposedly given to us by the Japanese government.

The cherry blossom has huge significance to the samurai. A samurai's life was to be similar to the cherry blossom's life--brief and beautiful. There's also the concept of mono no aware, which is kind of like a wistfulness about temporary things. The cherry blossoms are here today, gone tomorrow, leaving only their memory behind.

[MadamePapillon]

The blossoms are just beginning to show signs of blooming over here...I can't wait to see green after so much gray...it actually snowed here today :( Been having weird weather lately.

The blossoms are beautiful but I always wondered why the Japanese put so much significance on that particular tree. I always found Maples or Weeping Willows to be truly inspiring...the cherry blossoms are pretty but not much else. :relief: I suppose maybe it's the aesthetic nature of the tree that appeals to the Japanese, but still...you could build a house in a maple tree. You can't do that with just any tree.

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Japan's cherry blossom season in pictures;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7317183.stm

:cool: .

[Glenski]

Pshaw on cherry blossoms. I just drove home in a mild snowstorm, and I'm nowhere near Maine. Northern Japan, actually.

[Kirie_Maiden]

Thank you all for your answers. I understand a lot more now. They are beautiful trees, and I suppose I kind of agree with the samurai belief towards them. They do represent ALL life, and not just the life of a samurai. Their life isn't long but what they do with it is beautiful. Kind of inspiring, really.

Sorry, I'm going all poetic now. You can tell I'm an English Literature student. Haha.

[Derfel]

The cherry blossom has huge significance to the samurai. A samurai's life was to be similar to the cherry blossom's life--brief and beautiful. There's also the concept of mono no aware, which is kind of like a wistfulness about temporary things. The cherry blossoms are here today, gone tomorrow, leaving only their memory behind.

That makes me wonder, what would represent a western horseman's or knight's life lol? Rose hip? Not that short, but rather dry lol.
Nah, don't get me wrong, chivalry owns.

[Oren]

Indeed;

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/dabigginger/Bumblebee/cherryblossomviewing.jpg

Cherry blossoms are so beautiful :cool:
Awesome pic! It is and they are, but it's just like autumn falling--spring hit different places at different times. Eg... the sakura around my house just blossomed this past wednesday. They are beautiful, too. I'm thinking of stealing two blossoms and pressing them inside my copy of "The Tale of Gengi". I think that would be cool. The "best" Japanese novel ever written encompassing the symbol of new life and sex. Very cool, indeed. I refuse to pay a shwathom-load o'money just to travel and see some blossoms, I did that two weeks ago with the plumb blossoms. Mmmmm umeboshi... mmmm.

Pshaw on cherry blossoms. I just drove home in a mild snowstorm, and I'm nowhere near Maine. Northern Japan, actually.
But it's so cool when you're driving a red sportscar through a shower of pink flowers falling all about--isn't it!? It clashes sooooo great!

[Glenski]

But it's so cool when you're driving a red sportscar through a shower of pink flowers falling all about--isn't it!? It clashes sooooo great!
Uh, yeah. And, the koto music and kabuki singers twanging in the background, with all the little dainty geishas skittering down the sidewalks, dodging the delivery guys dressed in rags on their heads and nearly the same skimpy thing to hide their loins and toting goods tied to the ends of long poles, and people all wearing kimonos or samurai costumes stopping every 5 seconds to bow deeply to each other...

Ah, yes. The REAL Japan of 2008.

And, then there is the reality...
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t129/GlenHill/cherryblossomgarbage.jpg

[Kirie_Maiden]

It's such a shame that that happens. That picture is just... urgh. You'd think if the trees are so respected and beautiful that the Japanese public would take care of them. God, what happened to society in recent years where respect, honour, integrity and kindness was thrown out of the window? Now we have environmental problems, scum bags on the streets and rudeness left right and centre.

[Derfel]

It's such a shame that that happens. That picture is just... urgh. You'd think if the trees are so respected and beautiful that the Japanese public would take care of them. God, what happened to society in recent years where respect, honour, integrity and kindness was thrown out of the window? Now we have environmental problems, scum bags on the streets and rudeness left right and centre.

The same as what happens with society everywhere... wait it doesn't happen, humans are simply amazingly dumb. Living by preset standards, they're unable to understand what precious to them, so you end up with loads of idiots doing something they're not even interested in, just because its annual, rare, unnatural, unprecedented, last, etc.
Honestly, if space travel would be a bit more advanced, when the Halley-Comet comes people would fill up the craters of moon with rubbish.
Lots of people are stupid individually, but when they gather together, 98% act like degenerates.

[Glenski]

Kirie Maiden,
If you think that picture is "ugh", you should see places where hanami parties are held and look at them BEFORE the cleanup into these nice, tidy bags!

[bruno]

All over the world after a public event the waste is inevitable !
But the promptness to clean up the places in Japan is
exemplary ! I made different experiences in other countries !:cool:

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I've generally heard good reviews on good tidy conscious the Japanese are, that for most people keeping public places looking good is important. But now Glenski says the reality of events like cherry blossom viewing festivals is a lot different (for the worse).

So whats the reality here guys- are most of the cherry blossom viewing festivals kept relatively tidy or aren't they? Is this being exaggerated at all in either direction when it comes to tidiness, or is it a simply case of that its not that bad but its not immaculate either?

[Mars Man]

It's relative, Tokis-Phoenix san. I'm sure you can go to parks where the morning after (possibly a Monday) may be pretty loaded with garbage, and then again, you can go to parks that will be quite free of left-behind garbage, even at the garbage can areas.

It will depend on a number of other factors too...the general age group, park or cherry tree area size and location, and so on.

The major park in the Matsumoto area stays fairly clean, but I have noticed, on 'days after' in the past, some particular spots within the park seemingly left about as they were, so to speak.

But, it's the human thing, pretty much. I'm sure you can find lack of thought about garbage, anywhere in the world.

Now regarding the main topic, however, (and we wouldn't want to totally stray away from that) a lot of importance is put on the dates of the blooms because plans are made to go in groups (often enough) to have a hanami. However, I would think most folks would kind of use common sense, and check out the plum blossoms, then know that the cherry would be soon, and from driving around and such.

Full bloom is the best time...and we always hope for no heavy rains. The cherry trees are beautiful at that time of year.

[Kirie_Maiden]

Yeah, they are quite pretty over here too. but I suppose I idealise them and imagine that they are much prettier in Japan. God knows if that's the case.

[pipokun]

Considering the public_intoxication friendly situation, esp., in the Hanami parties, in Japan, the garbages look so well-organized or well-packed.

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Cool, well thats good to hear :cool: .

[GaijinTokyoPunk]

I have been taking a lot of pictures of them around Tokyo as of late. It is a breath taking sight.

[Kirie_Maiden]

I have only seen one or two dotted around England. Are they all over Japan? Like, big clusters of them? I can image how beautiful that might look. Especially if the sun rises behind them... wow. It's breath taking just imagining it!

[pipokun]

Some sakura stories in 2008
Cherry viewing party with PM Fukuda at Shinjuku Gyoen Park on April 12
photo (http://sankei.jp.msn.com/photos/politics/policy/080412/plc0804121053003-l3.htm)

The species on the photo may be Fugenzo, a double-flowered cherry tree, and the brown-haired young species next to Mr Fukuda is Gal Sone, an eating competitor, and you will be surprised to see how much she can eat.
The gyoen park itself is a good place to go picnicking for people who don't drink, for drinking alcohol is prohibited there.
it is a good to look for your favorite trees from many species in the park (http://www.env.go.jp/garden/shinjukugyoen/5_album/index.php?f=桜). Each tree has different blooming time, so the tree you choose may not be the tree in spring.
I don't live in Kansai, but for fairness and it is the event I want to see.

"2008 Cherry Blossom Viewing in Japan Mint"
This year 370 trees and 125 varieties are blooming in our Cherry Blossom Lane.
http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/topics/new/page21.html
Next weekends, you can expect the full bloom around Tohoku.
Forecast of cherry blossom blooming dates in 2008
http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/en/News/sakura.html

There are some places with more than 5,000 or 10,000 trees, but I think 500 or more trees make me feel the places are great to see around.

[undrentide]

http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/200804%2F14%2F45%2Fd0065545%5F2204463%2Ejpg

A Photo taken about 10 days ago.

http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/200804%2F14%2F45%2Fd0065545%5F2250275%2Ejpg

This sakura is called "shidare-zakura", weeping cherry tree (just like weeping willow).
The blossoms are smaller and have more petals than the popular "somei yoshino".

[pipokun]

http://view.aomori.isp.ntt-east.co.jp/livecamera/hiro_sakura/cam1
The video is accessible from 7am to 20pm (JPN time)
Just click JAVAビューワでみる, and enjoy the fantastic night view, the Hirosaki Castle and Sakura.

They also have the English page, but I recommend the J version above.
http://view.aomori.isp.ntt-east.co.jp/usa/usa.html

[suicide-killer]

everytime i visit japan

it looks like sakura is about to wither...

i always wonder why

[Dogen Z]

When the morning sunrise
Becomes a magic show
Before your very eyes
And all the sounds of life
Begin to harmonize
You hear a song of hope
Surround your senses
And feel the promise of a brand new kind of world
Lose your defenses
Unlock your mind
Unwind and follow me
Come let me help you see
How to find the way to leave yesterday behind