Have you ever noticed the transience of life and the importance of staying in the moment by watching a flower? The details in its petals, the way it sways freely in the air, the meaning of its falling to the ground… It seems that the Japanese have noticed and cared about this a long time ago and have even turned it into a tradition. Come on, let’s meet the subtleties of the hanami tradition together.
Hanami Festival and the Meaning Behind It
Hanami is a tradition that takes place in Japan in the spring months and aims to celebrate viewing the sakura, commonly known as the cherry blossom. “Hana” means flower, and “mi” means to watch or observe. Hanami, which usually takes place in March and April, holds an important place in Japanese culture. So what do hanami and sakura mean in Japanese culture?
Hanami expresses deep respect for nature. Watching the sakura blossoms that cover the branches at the end of March has a precious place in Japanese culture, and this state of viewing, known as hanami, is celebrated as a traditional festival. The dates determined for special parties or special occasions, such as marriages are coincided with the days when the festival begins. People come to parks, gardens and riverbanks to celebrate the beauty of spring under the blooming cherry trees and have a chance to have a picnic and have a pleasant time. In this way, people who come together with their loved ones through hanami also have the opportunity to socially interact and relieve stress.
So is Hanami only celebrated during the day? No, this festival continues at night. Trips made at night to see and celebrate flowers that bloom only at a certain time of the year are called Yozakura. Special street lighting is used, and paper lanterns are lit to bring out the beauty of the flowers in Yozakura, which means night sakura.
Hanami Must-Have: Sakura
The symbol of Hanami is cherry trees, which are called “sakura” in Japan and translated into English as cherry blossom. Cherry blossoms have a philosophy that reminds people to enjoy the moment and notice the beauty because they symbolize the short life and transience of life in Japanese culture. These elegant flowers, which are not in a hurry to bloom, are in a great hurry to fall, and their petals that fall before they fade have been given such great meaning. So much so that sakuras were even the figures drawn on the planes of suicide pilots called kamikaze in World War II as a reminder that life can end suddenly despite their magnificent appearance.
Sakura trees represent both perfect beauty and quick and painless death in Japanese culture. Sakura trees are also very valuable to the samurai, who have an important place in Japanese culture. According to legend, samurai would draw a sakura picture before going on dangerous missions and take it with them. In this way, they would remember the beauty of life and find the strength to return whenever they were in trouble, and they would also remind themselves how untimely death is. The Japanese call sakuramori the care specialists who take care of sakura trees, which are considered sacred by the Japanese because they symbolize the two truths of life, life and death.
Sakura’s House
Every spring, the sakura first blooms on the tropical Okinawa Island in southern Japan. (Does Okinawa Island sound familiar? If you want to remember the details, we will leave you with the link to our article “Ikigai: The Reason That Gets Us Out of Bed in the Morning”) After Okinawa Island, the magnificent-looking sakura start blooming in the south of the country and gradually move north. There are many famous cherry blossom trees in Japan. However, the three most famous cherry blossom viewing spots, known as the “ 3 Great Cherry Trees of Japan, ” are Miharu Takizakura in Fukushima Prefecture, Jindaizakura in Yamanashi Prefecture, and Neodani Usuzumizakura in Gifu Prefecture (İnce, Oggusto, 2024).
In short, there are different meanings behind the hanami tradition, known as the flower viewing tradition of the Japanese, who have developed various traditions and perspectives to live their lives more meaningfully. Don’t you think it’s a very subtle approach to give meaning to the transience of life and the importance of staying in the moment with a flower viewing festival? So, if you come across a sakura, or a cherry blossom tree as it is known in your country, next time, I hope you enjoy that moment and remember the hanami tradition while watching the sakura…
References and Further Reading
Le, L. (n.d.). Hanami festivals: How Japan welcomes the spring – sakuraco. Sakuraco | Japanese Snacks & Candy Subscription Box. https://sakura.co/blog/hanami-festivals
Sakura and Flower Viewing Tradition Hanami . Halkbank Culture and Life. (2021, June 10). https://kulturveyasam.com/sakura-ve-cicek-seyretme-gelenegi-hanami/
Ince, KH (2024, March 20). Japan’s Cherry Blossom Sakura Festival . OGGUSTO. https://www.oggusto.com/lifestyle/japonya-kiraz-cicegi-sakura-festivali
