Japanese and Cherry blossoms
日本人と桜
Ayu Nakada - Mukai Board Member
Global warming? This year’s cherry blossom peak in Japan was the earliest since the year 812 AD! Here in Washington state, the Somei Yoshino have started falling and the Yaezaka are getting ready. Cherry blossoms or さくら (sakura) are important for Japanese and Japanese culture.
花は桜木 人は武士
(Hana wa Sakuragi Hito wa Bushi) 一休 (Ikkyu)
The best flowers are the cherry blossoms.
The best individuals are the samurai.
By Monk Ikkyu
Sakura’s short period in full bloom and the beauty of sakura are like the fragility of human life. That’s why the Japanese have been fascinated by sakura for a long time.
If you grow up in Japan, sakura is always related to your memories such as 入学式 or nyuugakushiki: the first day of school which is very important for G1, G7, G10 – grades 1, 7 and 10 in Japan. Because the schools start in the beginning of April which is also sakura season, everyone has nice photos in front of your school’s gate under sakura. We look forward to sakura blooming so much that even the weather report tells you when the first sakura will bloom that year.
After we moved to Vashon, we found beautiful sakura trees all over the island. Mukai Farm did a great job reestablishing Kuni’s garden, including sakura. I am sure she would be happy to see her garden’s sakura in full bloom.
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