My cousin’s husband sent me photos of the spectacular cherry blossoms in Miyakonojo, Miyazaki prefecture, where they live. They peaked around April 9. On a previous visit several years ago, the blossoms were in full bloom around March 25. For travelers trying to catch the blossoms, it’s hard to pinpoint a specific date, especially since flights and hotels must be reserved several months in advance. I remember being overwhelmed with delight the first time I saw them and being told by my relatives that reports of the blossoms are announced on news stations in addition to weather reports. The blooms open up from south to north and the whole country seems to be focused on the movement. Citizens often know the best places to view the flowers, but I realized that when the season arrives, the flowers are everywhere and you don’t really need to go to a river, park, or shrine to enjoy them. To the Japanese, the flowers represent the ephemeral quality of life and are revered.
I have never tired of receiving postcards, fans, bento boxes, and fabric with images of cherry blossoms. I have a collection of ribbons and origami paper with blossoms that I hope to incorporate into a creative craft project. I’d also like to learn to capture the delicate flowers in watercolor paintings.
Photos are by Nobutake Watanabe