Sakura in Japan
Hanami (花見) - Flower Viewing
• One of the most famous Japanese traditions. People gather in parks and gardens under blooming cherry trees, have picnics, admire the blossoms, and enjoy the company of friends and family.
• Hanami symbolizes the beauty and transience of life, as cherry blossoms only bloom for about a week.
Sakura in art and poetry
• The image of sakura is often used in Japanese poetry (especially in haiku and tanka) as a symbol of the transience of life and beauty.
• In painting, sakura is depicted as the embodiment of sophistication and harmony of nature.
Sakura in clothing and patterns
• Sakura flower patterns are popular in kimonos and yukatas, especially in the spring season.
• Such patterns symbolize youth, new life and purity.
Culinary traditions
• Seasonal dishes are prepared during the cherry blossom season:
• Sakura mochi is a sweet rice dessert wrapped in a salted sakura leaf.
• Sakura tea is green tea with sakura petals, which give the drink a delicate aroma.
• Sakura sake is an alcoholic drink with the addition of sakura petals.
Sakura in the meaning of life and death
• Sakura blossoms are associated with the Buddhist philosophy of mono-no-aware (物の哀れ) - the awareness of the sad beauty of the transience of life.
• In the era of the samurai, sakura symbolized the way of the warrior (bushido) - to live with honor and be prepared for death at any moment.