Sakura
Japanese Sakura (Cherry Blossoms) Sakura in night time is called "yozakura".
Sakura, a cherry tree, or Prunus spp. in it's latin name, is considered as Japanese national plant.
Blooming of cherry is a sign of the warm coming of a summer for Japanese, as well as change of season.
It's celebrated in various ways, and the riverbanks of great sumidagawa (river that flows inside Tokyo) are all crowded in second week of April.
This sakura viewing -festival is called as o hanami matsuri. People are enjoy sake and onigiri and have kind of a picnic, while watching these thought soothening, beautiful flowers.
There's something sensitive and cute about this, which attracts Japanese mind.
The seek for harmony which is common for Japanese people, is seen outmostly in hanami matsuri.
But soon the time of sakura is gone and petals fly in the wind, making room for the fruits. Big hairy worms come and eat what's rest of the flowers. But even them, turn finally to beautiful butterflies you can see later in summer.
Japanese feel sakura symbolizes fleetingness of human life, how lifetime is just a blink.
Sakura has gave innovation to many artists in Japan throughout the centuries.
Ume, plum blossom is blooming before sakura, sometimes during March. It's rather similar to sakura, though not regarded as great. Pickled ume is often inside Japanese riceballs, onigiri.
