Cherry blossoms - the charm of the land of the rising sun

(Baonghean.vn) - Anyone who has visited Japan during cherry blossom season will surely never forget the feeling of happiness and spring filling their chest when walking under the pale pink flowers.

You will be captivated when walking under the streets covered in the pale pink color of cherry blossoms.

“Flower viewing”, or “hanami”, is a unique Japanese culture. Not just any flower can be called “hanami”, but this phrase is reserved for cherry blossoms.

Every spring, early April is the time when cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Japanese people and those living in Japan invite each other to go see the flowers. They spread out green tarps under the cherry blossoms, where they chat, sing and enjoy spring dishes.

Putting aside busy days, Japanese people sit together under cherry trees to chat, sing to each other and enjoy spring dishes.

Coming to the flower viewing festival, you will see a lot of people, bustling but absolutely not see the atmosphere too crowded, noisy, do not see littering. All of the participants are conscious of protecting the peaceful atmosphere and keeping the space clean.

Cherry blossoms only bloom beautifully for 5 days to 1 week, so no matter how busy the Japanese are, they still take the time to enjoy the flowers with family and friends. They consider this a season for gatherings, and couples consider this a season for dating.

Indispensable corners of the Japanese cherry blossom festival.

The Japanese also prepare the dishes for the flower viewing session very carefully and beautifully. Photo: Internet

Although the cherry blossom (Sakura) is not officially recognized as the national flower, it is loved by the Japanese people, so it actually exists as a symbol as the national flower of Japan.

For the Japanese, Sakura zensen symbolizes beauty, fragility and purity. It is a flower that "blooms and fades quickly" and is therefore very popular with samurai, because it symbolizes the "path of death" of the warrior (living and dying like cherry blossoms). Cherry blossoms are found everywhere in Japan, especially in parks, along rivers, along canals, and in the courtyards of villas.

Cherry blossoms bloom from late March or early April to early May along the meridian of Japan, starting from Okinawa in late January to Hokkaido in early May.

Because the weather in southern Okinawa is warm, cherry blossoms bloom here the earliest, followed by those in the Kyushu, Kantou, and Shikoku regions, while in Hokkaido, cherry blossoms do not bloom until early May.

Somezoshino is the most abundant cherry blossom species in Japan.

Yaezakura usually blooms later than other cherry blossoms. It has a noble beauty with its velvety layers of overlapping petals.

Oyamazakura is loved because every time it blooms, the new leaves also open, creating a harmony of colors.

If the flowers bloom beautifully on the weekend, Japanese people will go to see the flowers on their day off. If the flowers bloom on weekdays, they will take advantage of the opportunity to see the flowers in the evening, after work.

No matter what time it is, cherry blossoms still bring people feelings of happiness, passion, warmth, and the scent of spring.

Quach Le Quyen

(Osaka - Japan)