In the Land of the Rising Sun the arrival of spring is heralded by the blossoming of the cherry trees and the consequent Hanami festival (literally: admiring flowers). For about a week, people from all walks of life descend on the parks and party in the open air, in the shadow of the sakura (cherry tree in Japanese) by consuming typical foods and a lot of saké. In particular, if a pink petal falls into a glass of saké, it is considered sign of great future good fortune.
It is a festivity very much felt by the population, with distant historical roots and symbolic, religious, but also very pragmatic motivations. The first Hanami was celebrated in the 7th century and it was a religious festival; moreover, based on the day on which the blossoming occurred, one could predict whether there would be a good harvest. In modern times, these religious values have been replaced by a generic festival celebrating the end of the rigours of winter and the rebirth of nature. Moreover, in Japan the end of March coincides with the end of the fiscal yearThis is a time when all citizens and companies have to file tax returns and all the bureaucratic paperwork required to complete the paperwork, generating a period of stress and overwork for many people.
From a symbolic point of view Instead, the flowers of the cherry tree represent the beauty, brevity and fragility of existence. Japanese mythology has it that in the beginning the colour of the blossoms of this tree was white, but that following the emperor's decision to burying the war dead samurai in the shadow of the cherry trees the flowers turned pink from feeding on the blood of the warriors.
In recent years knowledge and appreciation of this evocative holiday has also spread in the Westand even in our media comes the news that the Hanami festival has finally arrived in Japan. A little-known fact, however, is that Japan is a very large archipelago with a south-north axis, this moment can last up to two monthsstarting in early April on the southernmost island, Honshu, and ending in late May on the northernmost island, Hokkaido. Useful information for those who want to visit the Land of the Rising Sun and do not want to miss out on this experience.
One of the most fascinating places to enjoy this spectacle of nature is the Hirosaki Castlein Aomori Prefecture in the north of the country. The castle is surrounded by almost 5,000 cherry trees and the moment of their flowering literally resembles an explosion of colours and scents. Spring at its best.
Sources: Japan.cc
