Spring is on our door and with it will soon come the beautiful cherry blossoms. As far as a symbol, it’s hard to find something that better fits the Japanese ideal. Its meaning has changed over time, but has always remained Japanese through and through. Frankly, it is one of the best part of living in Japan and it is quite easy to understand why the Japanese have been going back to see the cherry trees bloom year after year for centuries.
Blossom contemplation (“hanami” in Japanese) is about enjoying the beauty of flowers. But over the years, it has come to center especially around cherry blossoms. The period is short but explosive! To be honest, even if you actively tried to avoid seeing cherry blossoms, it would be hard NOT to get a glimpse of a pink petal here and there. There is even a blossom forecast (called Sakura Zensen in Japanese) so you can adjust your schedule just right!
The year 2012 is also important for cherry trees as it marks the 100thanniversary of the donation by Japan in 1912 of cherry blossom trees to Washington DC. So it is not exclusively a Japanese thing anymore. In fact, the Tidal Basin, where the donated trees have been planted, has become one of the most famous cherry blossom viewing spots in the world. As it is, cherry blossoms not only represent “japaneseness,” but have also come to commemorate the friendship between two countries, between Japan and the United States of America.
If we look back 100 years, we discover that Yokohama is connected to this gift in more ways than one. Not only did the trees embark on their voyage to America from the Port of Yokohama, but Eliza R. Scidmore, who initiated the project and saw it through, was an American travel writer residing in Yokohama. She now rests peacefully in the Yokohama Foreign General Cemetery. The City of Yokohama has actually made a website to inform people about it this page of historyand designed a commemorative logo to celebrate related events taking place throughout 2012.
The Yokohama Convention and Visitors Bureau also has created this interesting pageon its “Yokohama Visitors' Guide” site. It lists the best places in Yokohama where you can go contemplate the cherry blossoms. It is definitely worth a look. As a matter of fact, it doesn’t only list places but events as well.
I invite you all to search where the cherry blossom spot closest to you is and check it out. Or for the bravest out there, go to O-oka River Promenade and marvel in the hundreds of trees planted along the river bed.
