Basic HTML Version
FireFlyz | 25
Flower
viewing isaverypopularpastime
in Japan and no other flower is steeped in
theconsciousnessof the Japaneseculture
more than the cherry blossoms (Sakura).
Sakura flowers symbolise the fleeting-
ness of life, which is amajor theme inBud-
dhism. The trees are known for their short
butspectacularbloomingseason(notmore
thantwoweeks inayear), anatural process
thatmetaphorically describes human life.
Sakura flowers bloom little late in the
Tohoku region compared tomost of Japan.
Here, it starts blooming from themiddle of
April tothebeginningofMay. So,whenyou
miss the chance to see Sakura, in Tokyo
area, visit Tohoku Area to see Sakura for
second chance.
Here’sa lookat thebestSakuraviewing
spots in Tohoku:
Miharu Takizakura
Miharu Takizakura is amillennium-old tree
Flower Power!
inMiharu, Fukushima. Itflowers inmidto late
April, and its light pink flowers spread in all
directionsfromthebranches, likeawaterfall.
Thetree is12mhigh, andwasdesignated
a national treasure in 1922. Polls frequently
rank itasthenumberonetree inall of Japan.
Around300,000peoplevisit theMiharu
Takizakuraeveryyear,making it an impor-
tant source of income for Miharu, which is
otherwise a farming community of around
17,000 people.
Shiroishi River
Nearly 1200cherry trees areplanted along
an 8km stretch of the Shiroishi River. The
river flows fromMount Zao through south
of Miyagi prefecture. The beautiful view
of these cherry trees lining the Shiroishi
banks, with snow-capped Mount Zao at
the background, is indeed awe-inspiring.
Over25,000peoplemakethejourneyto
Ogawara each year to enjoy the full bloom
ofSakura, predictedto last fromApril 12-15.
Kitakami Tenshochi
Kitakami in Iwate Prefecture, is famous for
more than 10,000 cherry trees planted
alongside the Kitakami River in Tenshochi
Park.
Kitakami’s Tenshochi Park has been
selected as one of Japan’s top 100 sites for
viewingSakura.
Alongside the cherry trees, vivid carp-
shaped streamers swim in the air above
the Kitakami River. The trees are usually
in bloom for one to two weeks around late
April and form a beautiful tunnel of cherry
blossomsthatearnstheparkaspotamong
the Tohoku Region’s best cherry blossom
spots.
Did You Know?
The rural Tohoku accent, known
as
zuzu-ben
for its trait of turning
all “s” sounds into “z”, can be hard
to comprehend sometimes even if
you do understand Japanese. Most
people are however well-versed
in school-standard
hyojungo
, and
English is also somewhat spoken
by urban youth.
If I were asked to
explain the Japanese
spirit, I would say
it iswild cherry
blossoms glowing in
themorning sun!”
–Motoori Norinaga (1730-1801), poet
TheMiharu Takizakura
is considered by many
as the single most
beautiful cherry tree
in Japan. It is located
in Miharu, a town in
central Fukushima
A scene at the Kitakami’s
Tenshochi Park