Sakura (cherry blossom) has a special place in Japanese people's hearts and lives. One cannot experience a spring day in Japan without mentioning it or hearing about it. Japan does not have an "official tree", but in reality the sakura tree could be considered as such. Sakura is used in the design for many things in Japan, for example on a 100 yen coin, or as the emblem of the Japanese national rugby team. Moreover, it is frequently used in various names, for people, companies and even for a professional football club.

Sakura design on a 100 yen coin

Sakura zensen ('sakura front') map

Each year, as sakura begins to bloom, every day the newspapers publish a "sakura zensen" or a map of the 'sakura front' which is used to predict and record on which exact dates sakura will start to blossom, and when it will be in full bloom. Please refer to the diagram above.

When sakura is in full bloom, people enjoy it in many forms as possible. One obvious way is through your own eyes. People also gather underneath sakura trees to have small festive gatherings with a nice box lunch and lots of drinks. This is firmly built into Japanese tradition - it is said that the Sengoku Era warlord Hideyoshi Toyotomi loved hosting such events in a lavish manner 400 years ago. In spring, these events (called "hanami") take place everywhere. Usually the youngest people in the group are called upon to prepare for hanami beforehand - sometimes a day before - by securing the best spot under the tree. Please refer to the photo and look for the traditional blue sheet.

Despite the long period of anticipation, the actual lifespan of the blossom is very short. Sakura lasts only a few weeks, and the season as a whole is only from March to May. This sense of hakanasa, or transitoriness, may be what makes it so special. It also coincides with the graduation season and the sadness of leaving your family and friends, as well as the start of a new school and work year and the feeling of looking forward to a new phase in one's life. Hence, people feel sentimental about sakura.

Moreover, that may be why sakura has been mentioned in many forms of Japanese classic art (such as Kabuki, Noh and Kyogen), and Japanese songs. It is said that there are more than 200 karoke songs that have sakura in the title. It has also frequently been referred to in Japanese haiku.

On the subject of haiku, with its inclusion in the English National Curriculum schoolchildren across the country have an opportunity to learn about a classic Japanese art form in their usual classrooms. It is certainly a part of Japanese culture that most British people can identify with. As haiku poetry is used mainly to depict seasonal images, it is a perfect method to reflect on sakura or spring blossoms, and with that in mind we would like to invite our webmagazine readers to put pen to paper and attempt your own original English haiku!


COMPETITION

With the theme of Spring, and following a three line, 5-7-5 syllable format, please send us your original English haiku, along with your full name and e-mail address to webmagazine@ld.mofa.go.jp, by 6pm on 30 April 2014.

JICC staff will pick their top three favourite entries to be published in our next Webmagazine and winners will receive a small gift for their efforts!

To get your inspiration flowing, here's an English translation of a poem by haiku master of the Edo period, Matsuo Basho.

A lovely spring night
suddenly vanished while we
viewed cherry blossoms


We look forward to reading your entries. Good luck!

JICC