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Sakura (Cherry Blossoms)
After briefly scanning through the various forums and threads, I've discovered that there aren't any threads on one of Japan's most beautiful traditional festivals, the cherry blossom O.o
According to my research, sakura basically means cherry blossom itself, hence the name. The cherry blossom (sakura) is Japan's unofficial national flower. It has been celebrated for many centuries and takes a very prominent position in Japanese culture. How it all began: Japan is often referred to as the land of flowers. From ancient times the people of Japan have celebrated the Cherry Blossom Festival as O-hanami: Flower Viewing. Although many beautiful flowers are depicted in song, paintings and even kimono patterns, flower viewing has always meant the beautiful flowering cherry tree ;) In the eighth century and earlier, the Japanese offered prayers while under the flowering cherry trees in a special ritual for the fertility of the earth. The Hitachinokuni Fudoki, an eighth century guide to famous places, describes singing and dancing among the flowers after climbing Mount Tsukuba. During the Heian period the imperial court held a banquet on the day of O-hanami to mark the change of seasons. Later in the Kamakura period (late 12th-14th c.), the warriors always considered the cherry blossoms the symbol of a life lived fully, no matter how short, and the ritual of cherry blossoms continued :p Flower viewing in the Edo period (17th-19th c.) became a popular secular event among the common people, with much dancing, singing and drinking of sake. And today Japanese radio and television announce the Sakura Zensen or Cherry Blossom front, allowing revelers to travel from region to region, following the blooming trees. Usually, the Cherry Blossom front begins in Okinawa in the south in March. Then it sweeps northward in April and finally reaches Hokkaido in May. With more than 50 varieties blooming from March to May, the excitement mounts XD~! Millions of visitors travel to famous temples, gardens and scenic spots. Dance and music concerts feature the cherry blossom and celebrate spring with poetry competitions, calligraphy exhibits, and paintings that depict the viewing season. Picnics are also planned under the flowers by schools, companies and families to celebrate the short fleeting bloom of this popular symbol of Japan :vsign: When Japanese people immigrated to the Untied States in the late 19th century, they planted the flowering cherry trees wherever they lived. In 1911, the Japanese government sent thousands of cherry trees to Washington D.C. which were planted all around the Washington Tidal Basin. This gesture of friendship between the two countries began the first Sakura Matsuri or Cherry Blossom Festival in the United States. Other Cherry Blossom festivals are held throughout the country in Macon, Georgia; Tuscalossa, Alabama; Detroit, Michigan; San Francisco, California; and Brooklyn, New York. It is obviously a symbolic event that brings countries and people together. Seattle’s Cherry Blossom Festival began when one thousand Cherry trees were sent by the Japanese government :eek: The trees were planted along Lake Washington Boulevard and Seward Park. The Seattle area is fortunate in the abundance of Japanese cherry trees it has in the parks and other public places. The Seattle Center, the Arboretum, the Japanese Garden, the University of Washington, Woodland Park, and the Seattle Buddhist Church Wysteria Plaza also have Japanese cherry trees. Arthur Lee Jacobs' "Trees of Seattle," tells you exactly where they are. You can have your own O-hanami (flower viewing) and then join the crowd at the Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival :cool: This is just one of the many delights you'll be able to pleasurably experience while living in Japan.   For more details, you can visit: Cherry Blossom Festival - Japanese Cherry Blossoms P.S. This thread is dedicated to all the older JF'ers: Avary_Ninja, Kainpendragon, CrimsonNataku, maks, Vesperd, kudo, Ash, GuitarisutoKao, etc etc, and especially to NinjaKasumi123 ^_^ Of course, the rest of the members are also welcome to visit this thread whenever you want =P Enjoy!!! XD |
Cherry Blossom Forecast 2007
Because this year's winter has been much warmer than usual (February recorded temperatures 2-3 degree above average in most parts of Japan), cherry trees are expected to blossom several days earlier than in the average year, although cold temperature in recent days has slowed down the pace a little bit. Below are the forecast dates for cherry trees opening their blossoms this year (according to the Japan Meteorological Agency) and the estimated best viewing periods (estimated by japan-guide.com). Rain, wind and temperatures can have a strong effect on the process of the season. For example, they can delay or shorten it considerably. Therefore, use the forecasts at your own risk. Location(L) Estimated Opening(E.O) Estimated Best Viewing(E.B.V) L: Tokyo E.O: March 23 E.B.V: March 30 to April 8 L: Nagoya E.O: March 23 E.B.V: March 30 to April 8 L: Kanazawa E.O: April 1 E.B.V: April 8 to 17 L: Kyoto E.O: March 28 E.B.V: April 4 to 13 L: Osaka E.O: March 26 E.B.V: April 2 to 11 L: Hiroshima E.O: March 26 E.B.V: April 2 to 11 L: Fukuoka E.O: March 21 E.B.V: March 28 to April 6 P.S. the forecasts was taken from a reliable website whose link Samokan-chan posted in the "Pictures of Japan" thread. So some credit should go to her ^_^ A video of cherry blossoming in Japan (Watch!! The 'real blossoming' comes only at the end..!) |
There are many dozens of different cherry tree varieties in Japan, most of which bloom for just a couple of days in spring. The Japanese celebrate that time of the year with hanami (cherry blossom viewing) parties under the blooming trees.
A large majority of cherry trees in Japan are of the Somei Yoshino and Yamazakura varieties. But in total, over one hundred cherry tree varieties can be found in Japan. There are several characteristics that differ between the various cherry tree varieties. Some of the obvious ones, that can also be easily recognized by beginners, are listed below: Number of petals: Most wild trees, but also a lot of cultivated tree varieties have blossoms with five petals. However, some species have blossoms which consist of more than five petals, such as ten, twenty or more. Trees with blossoms of more than five petals are called yaezakura.  5 petals (e.g. Oshimazakura)  about 20 petals (e.g. Ichiyo)  about 100 petals (e.g. Kikuzakura) Color of the blossoms: Most varieties produce lightly pink to pure white blossoms, but there are also cherry trees with dark pink or slightly yellowish blossoms. The color of the blossoms of some varieties is also changing while they are in bloom, from white to pink, for instance.  white blossoms (e.g. Shogetsu)  pink blossoms (e.g. Kanzan)  yellowish blossoms (e.g. Ukon) The fresh leaves: In case of early blooming trees, the fresh leaves usually do not appear until after full bloom, which gives the trees an attractive, homogenous look while they are in full bloom. In case of later blooming trees, the leaves usually appear before the blossoms, giving the trees a more heterogeneous look. Furthermore, the color of the fresh leaves differs between the varieties. In most cases, the fresh leaves are green, coppery brownish or something in between. Time of blooming: Most cherry tree varieties carry blossoms in spring. However, there are a few varieties, which bloom in late autumn and during the winter months. Yaezakura, i.e. cherry trees with blossoms of more than five petals, are typically the last ones to open their blossoms, about two to four weeks after most five-petaled species. Form of the tree: Cherry trees display various growing habits and come in different shapes and forms: triangular, columnar, V-shaped, weeping, flat-topped, etc. Weeping cherry trees are called shidarezakura. |
Some cherry tree varieties, found in Japan, are listed below. The blooming periods (B.P) shown refers to the situation in Tokyo. :vsign:
Somei Yoshino (Yoshino Cherry) B.P: late March, early April Cultivated during the Edo Period, the Somei Yoshino is by far the most numerous cherry tree in Japan. Somei Yoshino trees come with slightly pink, almost white, 5-petaled blossoms.  Yamazakura B.P: late March, early April Yamazakura is a wild, native cherry tree variety of Japan, which typically grows in mountainous areas. The blossoms are slightly pink and have five, relatively small petals.  Shidarezakura (Weeping Cherry) B.P: late March, early April Shidarezakura are weeping cherry trees, i.e. they have drooping branches. There are trees with blossoms of five petals and trees with blossoms of more than five petals. The latter are called Yaeshidarezakura.  Ichiyo B.P: mid April The Ichiyo has about twenty, lightly pink petals per blossom. The fresh leaves are green. Ukon B.P: mid April The Ukon has about 10-20 petals per blossom and coppery leaves. Ukon trees are easily recognized by their blossoms' characteristic, yellowish color. |
Kanzan
B.P: mid to late April Among the many yaezakura varieties, the Kanzan is one of the most numerous. One Kanzan blossom consists of as many as 30-50 pink petals. The fresh leaves are coppery brown.  Fugenzo B.P: mid to late April The Fugenzo is a late blooming yaezakura with about 30-40 petals per blossom. White to slightly pink when they open, the blossoms turn into a darker pink over time. The fresh leaves are coppery brown.  Shogetsu B.P: mid to late April The Shogetsu is a late blooming yaezakura with relatively large, white blossoms of about 20-30 petals. The fresh leaves are green. Kikuzakura (Chrysanthemum Cherry) B.P: late April, early May The Kikuzakura has as many as one hundred petals per blossom! It is also one of the latest blooming trees. In fact, by the time the blossoms are in bloom, the fresh leaves would have already developed almost completely and would somewhat be hiding the blossoms. |
:rheart: you really made my day. ^^ thank you
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:rheart: Don't mention it, Kasumi-chan ^_^ It was totally worth it :D
Pity I don't have the ability to distinguish colors that well... >_<" wow, great images btw! :eek: P.S. is the first one a cake? XD~! |
I've compiled some of the pics Ive taken during Hanami :D and other pics of Kansai area as well..
Flickr: Photos from samokan |
CoolNard: Wow, impressive! You must have put an extrodinary amount of time and effort into this. Just what JF needs - dedicated people. :)
Also, good to know I'm not the only one capable of writing eye-bleeding posts. :p Lol, jk jk. ;) Samokan: Thanks for sharing your pictures, they're wonderful! You've just reminded me of why I want to visit Japan so dearly. :) ~annelie |
Nice info,Nard...Lotsa info
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There gooorrreous.
Thats why my username is it,not because of anime. Its been overused in Animes =[ Oh well, Its real prretty!:rheart: |
Lol, thanks for the compliments guys.. ^_^ I don't know how else to express my gratitude.. sorry.. :pinkbow:
P.S. please post more sakura pics up, k? :D |
(I think I count as an old member not sure though)
Your welcome to use the ones I have on some of the other post i have made with Photos of Sakura in them.:vsign: (I'd do it myself but I dont have much time) |
(I count as an older member...)
Eh, good work CoolNard.. I would love to see the festival. I've also heard it's great in autumn when there is kouyou kisetsu, or "the season when leaves change their colour." .... maybe I could start a topic about that. |
Sorry, Cooly, yeah, I knew that...I've had a terrible day....
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Right, right guys, if you want me to extend my dedication to you guys in my first post, just say so XD~!
Hisu: Hey, continue it here! I want your contributions too..! ^_^ Aww.. please don't apologize, Rikku.. You know I couldn't possibly get mad at ya... *hugs off the terrible day* >_<" |
Sorry If some of these photos suck (I'm a novice photographer with a Cheap (sucky) digital camera.
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Lol, quit being modest already, kuro, you're a professional XD
Love the second one... so.. dazzlingly white... O_O"! Have you got pics of sakura falling off from the trees..? Like, a whole rain of them..? It's so romantic.. I wouldn't mind kissing under falling sakura.. :p |
Heck, a picture is a picture to me, don't matter, as long as I can see it! (hope Kira does not read this)
Can I ask where those where taken?? |
I'm no professional I got Phone poles in the photos among other things.
Yeah I did have one photo with the falling sakura but i can seem to find it X___X Well anyways here are some more      This is a Sakura tree named Takizakura that is over 1,000 year old,(this is extrealy old even for a Tree)  I missed photographing it when it was fully bloomed but got one with the green leaves  |
:eek: A thousand years old!!!?
Awww... so sad you couldn't find it.. :pinkcry: Owell, I'll settle for kissing under the one with the rainbow..... :D |
Ok more Pics ^_^ (just tell me if im posting to many)
 Ok this is going to be cool Ok look at the Sakura in the distance in this Photo Its the same as the above.  Now I'm standing at the place you where just looking at and looking at the place where i was standing ^_^ (there about like 500 or 600 meters apart)   Same Sakura in front of it ^_^ (its really big look at the people on the bottom left)  This Sakura is a bit famous (it was in a movie)   |
No, you aren't posting too much, kuro! Keep it up, or higher if you can afford it! :mtongue: This is so much better than yahoo-ing or google-ing.. XD Holy crap... they're beautiful..
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I am an old member in the literal sense of the term :D
Nard-Kun - You've outdone yourself. I mean I knew you were good...but really this is taking the whole thing to a brand new level. I'm too impressed to write and you know that stands for something in my case :D :vsign: Kuro-Kun - You are a barefaced liar if you say that you don't do photography well :D. Looking at your snaps I feel like I've just been to japan and back :eek:. You know, someday I'll get married and when I need to make an invitation card I'm going to ping you and ask for photos of sakura. You can bet your life on it trainy! :vsign: |
Aoshi-kun: You could help by doing poems on Sakura.. :D:D
Mmhmmm.. I'm gonna do the same.. :Pinknod: |
Alas Nard-kun, my poetry has been sucked out of me by the marvelous Insane poet. :rolleyes: *Oh goody!*
My poems are now restricted to what I've put up on her insane dahlia thread. Maybe if I see Kuro's photos long enough.... hmm! now there's a thought! :rolleyes: |
Kyo likes the Sakura tree...
-cough- just thought id state that for the record.. ill be on my way now... *dissapears with a poof in black smoke* |
Thank you for your appreciation, Waru-chan ^_^ glad I could be of service :cool:
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thnaks lots for all informations i have never heard flowers has so much importance in japan :) very interesting to know that and it's really beautiful!! :p thanks
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You're welcome, maitrekong *bows*
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Yeah more Sakura ^_^
   senbonzaku (one thousand Cherry blossoms) ^_^  |
Isn't senbonzaku Kuchiki Byakuya's Bankai from Bleach..? XD
anyway, incredible pics as always, kuro-san... Second one rocks especially hard :D Maybe you should take over this thread, lol ^_^" |
I agree, Tenchu, I think a lot of things hurt much lesser when the refreshing wind of the cherry blossoms soothes your body... :p
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Quote:
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Oh... O_O Thanks for the enlightenment! :D
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These look beautiful CoolNard!
I can't wait to go to JAPAN and see it before my own eyes :p |
Anytime, aldine-chan :D
Yeah... I wanna go too... :p |
Yup.. I don't do male celebrities lol... =P
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Weed..? Lol, I don't smoke at all, in fact, i detest smoking.. -.-"
Though I might if it was sakura flavoured XD Say, anyone ever put a sakura in their mouths before.. O.o? |
It refers to the "Cherry blossom" in Japanese, my first post in this thread has the definition ^_^
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