Ken: Cherry Blossoms in the Spring

Hey everyone! This is Ken, wishing everyone a happy spring! I was on a walk the other day since the weather had been very nice, and I noticed the abundant cherry blossom trees blooming. They're a pretty sight, as their pink flowers stand out from the other colorful trees. I was curious to learn more about them and why they're so significant. I called up my great chums and talked about cherry blossoms, how they came to be, what they symbolize, and where you can find them.

First, cherry blossoms can be found around the world in different countries. Places such as Washington D.C. hold special events, such as the National Cherry Blossom Festival, for people to visit. This festival is held yearly from mid-March to mid-April, offering gourmet restaurants, fantastic artwork, and a parade for everyone to enjoy. Many people recognize Japan as a very popular destination to see cherry blossoms. I learned in 1912, Japan sent 3,020 cherry blossoms to Washington D.C. as a gift. Cherry blossoms are also edible, as they are a popular component in various Japanese foods and drinks. I might have to try a cherry blossom dish!

Many people enjoy the pretty flowers but don't quite understand their symbolism. There are many different symbols throughout the world for cherry blossoms. They are one of the shortest-lived flowers, only blooming for several weeks during the spring. As such, they represent renewal and the fleeting nature of life in Japan. In China, the flowers represent feminine power and the beauty they carry. While cherry blossom festivals are seen as controversial in South Korea, the flower is considered a symbol of purity and beauty in the country. Generally, cherry blossoms represent rebirth, renewal, new beginnings, and the start of the spring season.

Japan has much significance with cherry blossoms throughout the country. Cherry blossoms embody beauty and mortality more than the samurai. Living by a strict code of honor, respect, and discipline, their duty was to represent these virtues while appreciating the inevitability of death without fearing it. It's believed that a fallen cherry blossom symbolizes the end of their short lives. Japanese pilots during World War II painted their kamikazeplanes with cherry blossoms to embrace a similar meaning to the samurais. Cherry blossoms aren't embraced for self-destructive purposes anymore butkeep their philosophical and aesthetic values. The symbolism remains as when the flowers bloom, it coincides with the start of a new fiscal year in Japan in April, children returning to school, and employees starting new jobs.