Ephemeral as well as sublime, cherry blossom is expected in Japan every year from the beginning of March to the beginning of May: many people spend hours contemplating this event - called sakura in Japanese - while sitting on linen sheets and sipping sake together with their peers. #sakura

The complete flowering - mankai – occurs one week after the beginning of the hatching - kaika. Five days later, the bloom ends and the petals start to fade. Cherry blossom follows a progression from north to south of the Japanese archipelago and concerns more than 100 varieties of cherry trees.

The different species are distinguished by the shape of the petals, as well as by their number - from five to over a hundred - and by their color. In fact, some varieties have petals that tend to yellow while others are closer to white or pink, that can be light or dark. For some species - fugenzo - petal shades change throughout the flowering period.

Many Japanese poets - such as Onitsura and Issa - have tried to describe the ineffable beauty of this natural wonder.

The silent flowers
also speak
àto this docile inner ear.

-

In the shade of cherry blossoms
no one is a foreigner
anymore.

-

To the voice of people
cherry blossoms
have blushed a little.

-

Cherry blossoms at night!
Just like angels
coming down from the sky.

Savoring their tea, Japanese women are used to gently folding one of their hands - simulating the shape of petals and cherry blossoms - to discreetly protect their lips from the eyes of strangers. The same candor, which recalls the innocent joy of children, can be found in the fresh and delicate notes delivered by the petals of such a noble, surprising flower.

#cherry #blossoming #joy #candor #haiku