Sakura: The Spirit of Japan

Apr 8

Spring (or “haru”) heralds a very special time of year in Japan, and Tokyo is now in the height of this special time that Japanese hold close in their hearts. It’s sakura season, which means the symbolic and fleeting time when the cherry trees blossom and ohanami celebrations occur.

It’s actually a two month phenomenon as the blossoms open south to north, beginning in southern Kyushuu in early March and making their way north to Hokkaido in early May.

Sakura symbolize the fleeting impermanence of all life. They bloom in delicate beauty, inspiring emotions, and they leave just as fast. It’s all tentative. A big wind or heavy rain can take the blossoms away, much like nothing is certain in life. Japanese enjoy the beauty and inspiration while it is there, celebrating life and friendship. A big part of sakura time is “ohanami” where people set up camp and picnic under the trees, enjoying food, drink and music with close friends and strangers. It draws people closer together, if only for a short time, much like life does.

A few days ago, the Imperial family opened a section of Inui Dori on sacred palace grounds to the public to view nearly 100 sakura trees in full bloom. This first-time event is in celebration of Emperor Akihito’s 80th birthday.

There are sakura festivals in many places around the world. In the U.S., two of the better known places to are in Washington D.C. and New York’s Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. In 1912, the mayor of Tokyo gave 3,000 cherry trees to the nation’s capitol as a symbol of friendship between Japan and the United States. The trees were planted around D.C’s famed Tidal Basin, and most are still there, flowering in late March or early April when Washington D.C. holds the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the largest in the U.S. It’s a three-week event that welcomes spring while celebrating Japanese culture and the close ties the two countries have.

The beauty of the cherry blossoms remind us of how fragile and precious life is. We hope you have a chance to experience the fleeting beauty and the wonder of the festivals while reflecting on how precious life is.

Japan Suite

Showcasing traditional Japanese crafts and the artisans who create them — their stories and their art in words and visions. Japan’s hand-made crafts have played an integral role in the lives of Japanese for centuries. They are created in response to basic, everyday needs and have long been used in the daily rhythms of life. They come from the earth and from nature, and they are prized for their simplicity and long life. Craftspeople pour their passion, pride and energy into their handiwork, creating objects that can far outlive their creators, but in doing so, they carry on the artist’s legacy. The artisans know their objects can live hundreds of years, and they want to be just as proud of it in 100 years as they are today. So, everyday household items take on a life of their own, their own spirit and their own story. They are unique, one-of-a-kind creations with a character and spirit that grows stronger with regular use. The artist creates the object, but that is just the beginning of the journey. In the hands of its owner, a relationship is created, one that is nurtured across time. Just as we do, these creations will change over time developing new imperfections and new character. Each region and each artisan have their own character. In Japan, this is known as meibutsu. The legacy has been passed down by Japanese artists across time down to today’s craftspeople who are advancing and redefining this tradition. We applaud these artisans, and we strive to support them as they re-interpret the heritage of their predecessors — and we are proud to introduce their work, their stories and the passion they put into their creation here at Japan Suite.

Sakura: The Spirit of Japan

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