Blossoms...everywhere
Yesterday was a big day. March 24 by itself doesn’t mean much. But coupled with the event of “opening cherry blossoms” it is one of the most anticipated days of the year. Especially for my Japanese friends who have been speculating and predicting this date with great enthusiasm and vigor since the day I arrived last January.
Against what many said to be “all odds given the weather,” the cherry blossoms have arrived in Tokyo. In fact, they even arrived before my parents had to leave for their trip back to snowy Minneapolis. I must admit, cherry blossoms are gorgeous. But Japanese nationals crowd around the trees and take pictures like it’s a bi-centennial event instead of an annual one. It gives me the feeling I have been underestimating the importance of the season here.
When I think about it, I realize that for the Japanese, cherry blossoms are much more than just a pretty scene. I found out that despite their pink color, the Japanese associate the cherry blossom flower with masculinity. Because the petals stay fresh even as they fall to the ground, they have been associated with Japanese soldiers who fell well before their time-- while they were still beautiful. And it only takes a few days of traveling to realize that the Japanese perceive their cherry blossoms to be their country’s “best face.” I guarantee all tourism photographers in Japan are booked solid starting the day the cherry blossoms arrive.
I was walking with my friend down a boulevard lined with cherry blossoms last night and she was telling me about the traditions associated with the season. When the trees are in full bloom, people take off work to drink beer under the branches. And the lanterns hanging by cords along the streets were provided by the small businesses in the area. She was also reading some signs fastened to the fence along the boulevard. The signs were written by school children and said things like, “The river is pink and you are pink.”
Like a lot of other things, the blossoms are a poignant reminder of how different I am from my Japanese counterparts. To me, the flowers are pretty-- something to document with a few pictures. But to the Japanese, the flowers represent their culture, who they are now and who they want to be. And if that seems a little deep and sentimental, you must admit that at least they provide a beautiful excuse for some well deserved time off.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008