Sakura

This is one of those posts long overdue. It should have been a posted during April, a few months ago, but as I've said earlier, it was quite hectic during that period, so I've decided to post it now.

The sakura or cherry blossom is a very special flower to many Japanese. For many, I'd say that if you hear something about the sakura flower, you'll immidately relate it to Japan. Although not officially recognized as the national flower many would say that the Japanese see it as so. The thing about the sakura is that the individual flowers are not all that special all on their own, if you look at them closely however, it's the effect of the whole sakura tree at full bloom which is magnificent. Coming into full bloom in peak spring, it could be though of the sign of the end of winter. During summer one can say that it is just an average tree. It looses it's leaves during autumn and is bare to it's skeleton during winter. What's very interesing, is the speed of it's blossoming during spring. In a period of say, lesser than one week, the sakura will transform from it's bare branches, to the full blossom of flowers covering the tree like a pink canopy. Pictures (especially the ones I've taken below), don't do justice to it's beauty. It's there blossoming in full bloom for a week, maybe a little more maybe 2. Then just as fast as it blossoms, the flowers cover the earth surrounding it with pink, and the flowers are gone.

Perhaps it's the short life of the sakura's full bloom which makes it even more beautiful. Humans after all get bored easily, and if it bloomed for say, 2 months or 3 during the course of the year, then maybe it will simply become just "another flower". Sometimes I almost see a parallel of the Japanese life, and that of the sakura. Long times of work and prepration, just those short bursts of joy and happiness when you can let yourself go wild and enjoy the best life has to offer. During sakura's full blossom, the atmosphere of sitting under the sakura and having a picnic and maybe even a few drinks is a special feeling I think most, not restricted to only Japanese, but also foreigners living in Japan long for. One weekend, in a year when the sakura is in full bloom and people are able to enjoy their lives to the fullest, drink, eat, and let out their wild innerself (some with the help of alcohol) under the beauty of the cherry blossom. Ofcause the sakura is not the only time you will see this side of the Japanese, there's the koyou (maple season in autumn), and hanabi (fireworks of summer), which comes close, but that is another story.

To students, sakura has an even greater special meaning. This is because the sakura's peak blossom coincides with the graduation period of grade school and university students. The time for an end to student life of high school, and the beginning of university for grade school students, and the end of student life and the beginning of working life for university students. The almost perfect timing adds to the intense atmosphere during this critical period of many student's lives. Serving simultaneously as a congradulations for completing another step of one's life, and a fairwell to the protection of the walls of accademia and life and laughter of good friends, into the life of the harsh world of a fully grown adult. It's no wonder that it is a special flower. I end this blog with the notes to a song I like, Sakura from Moriyama. I'm sure after reading it you'll see why the sakura is a very special flower to the Japanese even though my Japanese translation is still the level of a beginning amature.

森山 直太朗

僕らは　きっと待ってる　君とまた会える日々を
We will surely be waiting, waiting for the day to meet you again
　さくら並木の道の上で　手を振り　叫ぶよ
on the sakura lined street, we wave our hand and cry out
　どんなに苦しいときも　君は笑っているから
no matter how difficult times are, we will get through it with your smile
　挫(ｸｼﾞ)けそうになりかけても　頑張れる気がしたよ
even if we are discouraged, we will have the will to persist

　霞みゆく景色の中に　あの日の歌が聴こえる
Within the mistly view, the song of that day can still be heard
　さくら　さくら　今、咲き誇る
Sakura, sakura now proudly blossoming
　刹那(ｾﾂﾅ)に散りゆく運命(ｻﾀﾞﾒ)と知って
following it's destiny of short life and of falling
　さらば友よ　旅立ちの刻(ﾄｷ)
goodbye my friend, it's time for your journey
　変わらない その想いを今 　
the feelings now will not change

今なら言えるだろうか　偽(ｲﾂﾜ)りのない言葉
if it's now, can it be said without a lie
　輝ける君の未来を願う　本当の言葉

true words that wish you a bright future
　移りゆく街はまるで　僕らを急(ｾ)かすように
the changing town, like forcing me to follow it's change
　さくら　さくら　ただ舞い落ちる
sakura sakura, you dance as you fall
　いつか生まれ変わる瞬間(ﾄｷ)を信じ
still beliving that you will be reborn once more
　泣くな友よ　今惜別のとき
don't cry my friend, though it's time to part
　飾らないあの笑顔で　さあ

with your pure true smile

　さくら　さくら　いざ舞い上がれ
sakura sakura, twirling up high
　永遠(ﾄﾜ)にさんざめく　光を浴びて
and bath in the eternal light
　さらば友よ　またこの場所で会おう
goodbye my friend, and let's meet again here
　さくら舞い散る道の
sakura's dance as it floats down to the road
　さくら舞い散る道の上で

sakura dance as it falls on the road