Cherry Blossom Japan National Flower

Japan s national flower is the cherry blossom which is also known as the sakura in japanese.

Cherry blossom japan national flower. Cherry blossoms also known as sakura in japan are the small delicate pink flowers produced by cherry blossom trees. As spring approaches the japan meteorological corporation on february 21 released its updated national cherry blossom forecast much to the joy of sakura fans around japan. The cherry blossom 桜 sakura is japan s unofficial national flower. There are many dozens of different cherry tree varieties in japan most of which bloom for just a few days in spring.

Interesting fact about cherry blossoms and japenese culture is that during cherry blossom season you ll often see people having picnics underneath the cherry blossom trees. It has been celebrated for many centuries and holds a very prominent position in japanese culture. Cherry trees or sakura symbolize the evanescence of human life in japanese culture their blossoms are both brilliant and brief.

After only two weeks they drop to the ground and wither falling like snow with the ebb and flow of the winds. Come spring japan s cherry trees dormant through winter burst for a few short weeks into shades of pink. People picnic under cherry trees in full bloom in tokyo last march. The springtime bloom is a lavish spectacle but remarkably brief.

In tokyo urban dwellers emerge from their homes and offices to. As flowers native to asia they can also be found in china south korea and india but today they enjoy worldwide blooming. Sakura or cherry blossoms are japan s national flower in the hearts of the people. Cherry blossom and chrysanthemum have different meanings and roles as national flower.

Cherry blossoms flowered in tokyo on saturday the earliest date on record for the nation s capital and the first to bloom in the. Cherry blossom is symbol of japanese culture. As japan s national flower the cherry blossom or sakura as it s. A cherry blossom is a flower of many trees of genus prunus the most well known species is the japanese cherry prunus serrulata which is commonly called sakura 桜 or 櫻.

They are widely distributed especially in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere including japan taiwan korea mainland china nepal india pakistan afghanistan iran myanmar thailand europe. This is called hanami or flower viewing and it s a custom that dates back many centuries. Here s an overview of the various ways that the sakura are important in japanese culture. Every spring throngs of japanese people and visitors make efforts to see this well loved flower a tradition known as hanami and the flower also plays an important role in the country s songs poems art and ceremonies.