Meeting and Farewell

Cherry blossoms (Someiyoshino) are the representative flower of spring in Japan, and are so beloved by the Japanese that it is very difficult to find a Japanese person who does not like cherry blossoms. The cherry blossoms bloom from the end of March to April each year, but the blooming time may vary depending on the climate of the year. Also, due to Japan's long north-south geography, cherry blossoms gradually bloom from the south and reach full bloom in the latter half of April in the northern part of the country. The fact that the cherry blossom blooming status is reported in the news every day as the cherry blossom front is a good indication of the Japanese people's love of cherry blossoms. The full bloom period is short and the cherry blossoms fall within a week or so, but they may fall earlier if rain or strong winds continue.
When the cherry blossoms bloom, the temperature becomes a little warmer and we begin to feel spring. In Japan, school and company year ends in March and a new year begins in April. The cherry blossoms are in full bloom just around the time of school graduations, commencement ceremonies, and company departmental transfers, so they symbolize meeting and farewell.

When people hear the word "cherry blossom," they often associate it with the Someiyoshino cherry trees, which has white flowers and are planted in many places as roadside trees. However, various types of cherry trees are cherished in various regions and places, including Yamazakura cherry trees that grow wild in the mountains, Kawazu cherry trees with light pink flowers, Oshima cherry trees whose flowers and leaves are aligned at the same time, and Weeping cherry trees characterized by their weeping branches and so on.