Brave Spear English School

People enjoy cherry blossoms viewing

by Tokutomi San

In April, people all over Japan enjoy “Hanami,” cherry blossoms viewing.

The cherry blossoms is one of the national flowers of Japan.

From the Heian era, Japanese people have appreciated cherry blossoms as a special flower.

From a long time ago, people have been enjoying food, drinks, chatting, and singing together under the cherry blossoms, like a picnic. That is “O’HANAMI”.

In Japan, in general, cherry blossoms gradually comes into bloom from the warmer southern areas to the colder northern areas, from March to April.

A week after the flowers reach full bloom, countless petals begin to fall. The scenery is so beautiful that we call it “a flurry of blossom petals.”

Many events, such as graduation ceremonies, entrance ceremonies, starting a new job, retiring, and moving, occur during the cherry blossoms season. So cherry blossoms are linked to memories of new meetings and farewells. It’s very emotional.

Cherry blossoms only bloom for a week or two, so it reminds people that life is short and beautiful.

Our town, Shimamoto, has some beautiful “O’HANAMI” spots, not crowded, where we can relax.

 For example, the “Mimase riverside” and the “Wakayama shrine”, etc.

Thank you.

Note: this is part of the Shimamoto-cho Guide Text, created by the Yokoso Shimamoto (YS) English Guide Study Group; a text I helped revise.   nakyu