Meet Ken

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.

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If you’ve been active during the summer this year, like me, you know it’s been hot! From surfing to lifting weights, I’ve been enjoying the hot weather by going out every day and enjoying that sun. My chums, however, don’t like it as much as I do. As I’ll explain, my chums aren’t very fond of the summer season. Many of the activities we did weren’t as fun for them as they were for me. Instead, they would rather stay in the shade and stay cool by munching on ice cream sandwiches and popsicles. But we did enjoy a couple of activities together, even in the summer heat.

It all started when my chums and I decided to go to the local beach to cool off from the summer heat. I brought my beach blanket and sunscreen to protect myself from the harsh sun. Stefan got a fan to cool himself off and a water bottle. Emma kept herself cool with a sun hat and a cooling towel. Henri only brought a pair of sunglasses, which he found out later was a big mistake. When we found our beach spot, we decided to play a game of volleyball together. When we walked over to the designated volleyball spot on the beach, we grabbed a ball that wasn’t inflated properly. It was a minor inconvenience, but we decided to play with it. We quickly discovered that the sand was scorching hot, which made our feet very uncomfortable. It was like we were stepping on the surface of the sun! We served up the ball to each other, trying our best to rally back and forth. We only played for a while until we got tired and decided to find a better activity to try together.

I suggested next for us to try and lift some weights. Working out would help us prepare for the upcoming tennis tournaments we’ll join by strengthening our forearms for better serves. There was an area right off the beach that had weights, treadmills, and bench presses for others to use. I started with resistance bands before trying out some of the dumbbells. Stefan followed my lead by starting with resistance bands and trying dumbbells. However, when he used the heavier set of dumbbells, he quickly began to feel sore in his muscles. He decided to stop so he wouldn’t injure any of his muscles. Emma was quick to try both dumbbells and kettlebells that were available. She quickly moved on after trying them to the bench press and lastly cardio. She completed all three of her workouts before any of us finished ours! She got bored of trying all the different equipment and wanted to find something more enjoyable for a workout. Henri wasn’t a big fan of any of the equipment. He struggled to lift the heavier weights, especially as the sun peaked with its hot temperature. Seeing how he was struggling, I decided that then would be a good time for us to get a treat after playing volleyball and working out.

Since it was such a hot day, many ice cream trucks were out for everyone to enjoy. Henri got a grape-flavored snow cone, Emma got an ice cream sandwich, and Stefan got an orange-flavored popsicle. I got myself an ice cream cup to enjoy with my chums. We sat near a shady tree, enjoyed our treats, and talked about our day out. While my chums have had a rough time with some of the activities we did, they all enjoyed being together and hanging out as a group. I was pleased to hear that my friends persevered despite the challenges they encountered and made the most of the day. Unfortunately for Henri, he got sunburnt because he forgot his sunscreen. “Don’t mistake me for a Red Panda!” he jokingly told me. I’m so lucky to have such a caring group of chums who all enjoy each other’s company. While it was a hot day out, we were able to make the most of it together!

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Ken the Koala at your service. Let me start by saying I’m super stoked you’re here! If you enjoy living life with a carefree laidback vibe, you and I will get along just fine. Trust me when I say you’ll never meet another koala like me. I’m just that cool and unique. My friends and members of my Tokki family can always count on me to find a reason to laugh, hang out and celebrate. And I intentionally make it a point to steer clear of anything (and anybody) too fancy. In fact, I avoid snooty people and highbrow country clubs all together. They’re just not my thing. Never have been. Never will be.

A swole fitness buff, avid outdoorsman and Kyrgios fan, I’m a true Aussie mate through and through in every respect. Catch me showing off at the baseline, slamming down protein shakes, paddling out to surf the high seas, tailgating or tossing the pigskin with my fellow chum buddies. Usually seen sporting Tokki shorts and tanks, I’m a mellow dude who doesn’t ever take life too seriously. I enjoy pumping iron, jamming out to country music classics, manning the grill at backyard shindigs and sipping on milk boba teas after hitting the gym. Oh yeah, and I have a super rad accent the ladies can’t resist.

Once you get to know me, you’ll find that I’m a rather agreeable guy and I just like to have a good time. Patient, drama-free and generous with my time, I think of myself as a loyal friend anyone would be lucky to have. Follow us on social media @TokkiTennis to follow all of the wicked cool things my friends and I have got going on. We can’t wait to welcome you into our tennis-loving world!