Sakura in Boston

I love sakura. Sakura is a Japanese word for cherry blossoms. For Japanese, sakura is a national flower and it is a part life.

Today's post is not very "wilderness", but still about beauty of nature.

Sakura. It blossoms between end of March and mid-April in Japan. It is a symbol of spring. Living in a country with clear four seasons, sakura reminds us of coming of spring. Coming of spring is joyful and hopeful for people. The sakura color of pink makes people feel crisp deep inside.

Sakura is not only a symbol of spring. Sakura is a symbol of graduation and entrance to school. Academic year ends at the end of March and starts in the beginning of April in Japan. So saying goodbye to friends and teacher, then meeting new people are always with sakura. Some life events, such as becoming professional worker from students, breaking up with girl/boyfriend at graduation, or meeting future siginificant other come within the view of sakura. Sakura reminds Japanese bitter sweet memories. This is why sakura is very special to Japanese. 

Sakura is everywhere in Japan. The biggest culture event related to sakura is ohanami. Ohanami is a picnic under sakura trees. Usually with friends, coworkers, or family put picnic sheet under sakura trees and eat and drink. Some people focus on eating and drinking (especially drinking), rather than looking at sakura (well, you know).  

A lot of companies do ohanami at night after work. In these cases, the youngest person in the company has to go to sakura spot and reserve good ohanami place under sakura before other senior members go there. Many cases, that reservation takes place from noon or even from morning for the night. That's reservation is by putting sheet on the ground. In Japan, nobody removes it, if sheet is there. That is the culture as well. 

Sakura in the mountain is also very beautiful. There are many more sakura strains in mountains. No crazy crowd for ohanami in the mountain, and it is absolutely specific in Japan to do sakura hiking. It is hard to go to the mountain in a perfect timing of blossom, but because of that preciousness, the beauty is even more appreciated. 

I am glad to know that sakura is also famous in the U.S. Probably sakura gift from Japan to the U.S. in the Washington D.C. is the most famous. I have never seen them in person, but someday I would like to see them. 

Sakura in Boston

This spring, I was surprised how many sakura is here in Boston. One of the prettiest I saw in Boston was a line of sakura trees along Charles river. Charles river is the iconic thing in Boston. Seeing sakura over Charles river was really appreciating walk for me.