Sakura (桜, 櫻?) Along with the serunium, is a Japanese national flower that blooms in spring, which is around the end of March until the end of June.
Sakura can be seen everywhere in Japan, shown in a wide range of consumer goods, including kimonos, stationeries, and kitchen utensils. For the Japanese, sakura is an important symbol, often associated with women, life, death, as well as a symbol to express the bonds between people, courage, sadness, and joy. Sakura also became a metaphor for the characteristics of life that are not eternal.
The Sakura tree is one of the trees belonging to the familia Rosaceae, a Prunus genus similar to a plum, peach, or apricot tree, but in general sakura is classified in sakura subgenus. The origin of the word "sakura" is the word "pocket" (Japanese for "blooming") plus a suffix that states the plural "ra". In English, Sakura are called "Cherry Blossoms".
The color of flowers depends on the species, some are white with a little pink, light yellow, pink, light green or bright red.
The flowers are classified into 3 types based on the composition of the crown leaf:
- a single flower with a layered crown
- double flower with layered crown
- double flower
*Selected places to see Sakura flowers
- In 1990, the Japan Cherry Blossom Association issued a list of 100 selected venues to see the beauty of the Sakura flower.
Kanto County:
Tokyo: Ueno Park (Taito-ku), Shinjuku-gyoen Park (Shinjuku-ku), Sumida Park (Sumida-ku), Koganei Park (Koganei City), Inogashira Park (Musashino City)
Tokai County:Gifu Prefecture: Usuzumi / Neodani Park (Motosu town), Shinsakai ridge (Kakamigahara town), Kamagatani (Ikeda city)
Kansai County:Osaka Prefecture: Osaka Castle Park (Osaka), The Mint Bureau (Osaka), Expo Park '70 (Suita city)
Hyogo Prefecture: Himeji Castle Park (Himeji City), Akashi Park (Akashi City), Shukugawa Park (Nishinomiya)
Nara Prefecture: Nara Park (Nara Town), Yoshino Mountains (Yoshino City), Kooriyamajoshi Park (Yamato Kooriyama)