Microseason: Cherry Begins to Flower

SPRING

SPRING EQUINOX

CHERRY BEGINS TO FLOWER

25 - 29 March

As the Spring Equinox passes and the days become ever so slightly longer, the the cherry tree’s petals begin to unfold, and hanami season begins. An often overnight shift that signals that we are properly mid-Spring. In this liminal space between cold and warmth, we navigate our collective anticipation. The Japan Meteorological Agency marks sakura season when five or six blossoms appear on a designated tree.

Amongst Japan’s flora, few possess the cultural weight of sakura. More than a seasonal spectacle, they are woven into the island country’s aesthetic consciousness, shaping poetry, paintings, and folk wares. In classical verse, “flower” often refers solely to cherry blossoms. We trace origins of the word “sakura” to sa, the god of rice fields, and kura, a sacred seat. It’s clear that sakura are more than trees, they are the resting place of spirits, their blooming a summoning of fertility and abundance.

Today, nearly 80% of the cherry trees across Japan are Somei Yoshino, a cultivated hybrid between two wild heirloom varietals, Edo Higan and Oshima Zakura, born in the Edo Period. Unlike its native parents, Somei Yoshino bloom in unison, draping entire landscapes all at once.

The emergence of Somei Yoshino has ultimately changed the way in which we experience the season. Like a highly-anticipated show, the curtains go up in one fluid motion. However, long before its existence, hanami was a more personal past time that favored the understated grace of wild mountain cherry trees, yamazakura.

In times past, the flowering of sakura was an agricultural omen. A whisper of the harvest to come. Farmers read the blossoms as they would the sky, finding in their unfurling both an offering and a prophecy.

As a communal activity, hanami has been observed both quietly and boisterously. Among the most storied gatherings are Yoshino no Hanami (1594) and Daigo no Hanami (1598), both hosted by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who sought to celebrate sakura in their fullest splendor. Even now, the tradition endures, as families and friends gather beneath the blossoms, sharing hushed moments of observation, or vibrant feasts in tribute to the season’s return.

The melody is familiar: buds flush red, then soften into pale pink, and in a sudden burst the petals fall, finishing in a tree filled with fresh lime-green leaves. Once mankai peaks when over 80% of the blossoms open, the descent begins. This cadence, both predictable and fleeting, has long captivated our attention.

Hanami can never ben experienced the same twice. The melody may be familiar but the rhythm and tempo differ year after year. Shaped by variables such as varietal and weather. Still, once a year, sakura return. Their presence providing a sense of reassurance.

Photo credit: Momoko Nakamura