Why Cherry Blossoms Are So Significant In Japan

The cherry blossom is widely celebrated in Japanese literature, in art, and in poetry. It’s no surprise why it is popular – sakura are stunning flowers! However, they are layered in meaning, blooming briefly and as ephemerally as life itself, and are interwoven in Japanese culture as a result. Read our blog below to learn more about the history and meaning behind Sakura, one of the most beautiful and culturally essential flowers of the world.

The History of Sakura

In Japan, cherry blossoms symbolise life. That is because the flowers bloom all at once for a very brief moment, before fading away. The flower itself grew in popularity in the Heian Period, from the 8th to the 12th century in Japan. During a time of isolation and self-discovery in the medieval period, mentions of “the flower” and Sakura became much more commonplace.

Sakura became closely linked to Hanami, or the elegant practice among well-educated aristocrats to hold flower-viewing parties with feasts and sake to divine the year’s harvest as well as to herald in the rice planting season. By the 16th and 17th century, particularly under the early Edo period, more samurai were taking part in the festivities, but the practice still had not spread to the lower classes. One of the earliest Hamani locations was in Ueno, in Taito Ward, which is still exceptionally popular for Hanami thanks to the many sakura trees nearby.

By the 18th century onwards, the practice spread to several different hanami venues in Tokyo, and more people could enjoy the festivities. The activity became exceptionally popular among the common people almost overnight and within a generation the idea of celebrating the new rice planting season with a party.

When is Hanami?

The ‘Cherry Blossom Front’ is often forecasted by the Japanese Weather Association to help us keep track of when cherry blossoms will bloom in Japan. These reports typically track kaika (the first blossoms) rather than mankai (full bloom). The Weather Association has sample trees all over the country, and once the first cherry blossom is detected, they declare the start of the blossoming season.

Usually, cherry blossoms flower in March, and most will bloom near the end of this month. However, in some regions of Japan, such as in Hakodate or Sapporo, you can expect to see the cherry blossoms bloom in late April or even early May.

How Long do Sakura Bloom For?

Sakura typically blooms for a very short period of time. Cherry blossoms go from kaika to mankai typically in a little over a week. They then start to fall from the trees just a week or so later. If there is substantial rain or winds, they might drop even quicker than that. It is no wonder that they were seen to represent the transience of human life!

Cooking Sakura

If you’ve got the urge to eat the bright, colourful sakura petals, you aren’t alone. The sakura are a seasonal ingredient used in many Japanese foods and desserts. It is a bad idea to pick sakura petals for yourself, and it is horrible etiquette during hanami to pick sakura leaves. The practice of picking sakura leaves was common in hanami celebrations in the feudal period, but by the Meiji era, the practice died out entirely. We’ve written recently about some amazing cherry blossom food and drinks to try – make sure to give our guide a read for our awesome suggestions!

One of the most common desserts during hanami in particular are Hanami Dango. Literally translated as flower-viewing dango, these rice dumpings-on-a-stick are as vibrant as the flowers themselves! They are typically three dumplings on a stick, one unflavoured white, one sakura flavoured and pink, and one green matcha flavoured. They are a delicious and cheap snack you have to try during a celebration.

Another common dessert is sakura mochi. We’ve talked about how wonderful mochi is before, but sakura mochi is especially delicious. Sakura Mochi are typically mochi that has been wrapped in a sakura leaf for aesthetic reasons, though the leaf itself is also edible (and tasty!). You can find a recipe for sakura mochi here for inspiration.

If you are interested in making some Japanese food in the UK, take a look at some of our amazing options in our store or online! We have a wide range of delicious options you will love to try. And if you are celebrating hanami today, we hope you have a fantastic time!