Cascade Cherry Blossom

This is Weeping cherry blossom (shidare zakura).
She has swelling such as the dress.




Light expressions melt into sky of the spring.




She welcome us with friendly smiles this year, too.

It is so. Here, gentleness is given for anyone without distinction.



"Cherry blossoms" all of posts, please click here.

"Holy" Japanese calligraphy

"聖" (sei, or kiyoi). It is translated as holy, sacred, sage.
This character is written by Kanzi, Regularscript.

Etymology :　Phono-semantic compound
semantic 耳 (ears)　　+　　phonetic 呈 (show, appear)

The cherry blossoms do not talk to us.
They are seen in merely us.
However, they show some irreplaceable thing to us.

Snow White Pieces

The well known kind is generally "Yoshino Cherry".
It is called "Somei-yoshino" in Japanese.

They flower in a state without most of the leaves.
Therefore the pure white shows it.




The origin of the name of cherry tree "sakura" increased "ra" which meant a plural number in "saku" which bloomed.
It is said that it is the words that expressed the whole plant growing thick of the flower originally.

There are the various opinions else.




As a flower of the spring to direct an entrance ceremony, it is planted in many schools.
The souvenir picture of the Japanese entrance ceremony is photographed under almost cherry tree.

It seems to be totally a rule.




願はくは花の下にて春死なん そのきさらぎの望月のころ
　西行法師 (1118 - 1190)

I pray that I might die beneath the cherry flowers in spring, in the month of February (by the lunar calendar) when the moon is full.
　Saigyō Hōshi (1118 - 1190)



"Cherry blossoms" all of posts, please click here.

"Madrid" Japanese calligraphy

"馬徳里" (Ma d rid). It is translated as Madrid of Spanish capital.
This character is written by Kanzi, Regular script.

The world main city can be written in Kanji letter.
The kanji is an ideograph, but there is not the meaning in particular on these letters combination themself. However, the individual letter has a good meaning.
ex. Paris, Warsaw.

Etymology :　馬 (horse)　　+　　徳 (virtue, ethics)　　+　　里 (village)
It is usage of a special kanji "ateji" called.


In the Far East, Spain is famous as a historic sightseeing country.

In addition, it is known as hometown of "Francisco de Xavier" which propagated Christianity for the first time in Japan.
There are churches about him (one more) and the historic places in this whole country a lot.

The cherry tree resembles an almond very much.
The flower of the Spanish almond is very beautiful.

Cherry Blossom's Decoration

The cherry blossoms have various kinds.
This says "Hikann sakura" (Prunus campanulata).




This cherry blossom is originally from south area.
It is planted in the whole country now.




The vividness of the color is good for spring.





Cherry blossoms flowering map of this year.
The place of a famous cherry blossoms information and etc.

"Cherry blossoms" all of posts, please click here.



Japanese three major giants of cherry trees
These three of them are registered as the first natural monument of the country on October 12, 1922.

☆yamatak a jinndai "God days" zakura
　(Age over 2000 years old)
　Hokuto-shi, Yamanashi Prefecture
　Height of the tree 13.6m, trunk lap 10.6m.
　A giant tree of the maximum grade oldest in Japan.

☆neodani awasumi "light sumi" zakura
　(Age over 1500 years old)
　Motosu-shi, Gifu Prefecture
　Height of the tree 17.2m, trunk lap 9.1m, the spread are East-West 24m, north and south 21m

☆miharu taki "waterfall" zakura
　(Age over 1000 years old)
　miharu-town, Fukushima Prefecture
　Height of the tree 19m, trunk lap 9.5m, spread east and west 22m, north and south 17m



Visit "Macro Flower Pictures" kindly hosted by maiaT to see many spectacular Macro.

"Red" Japanese calligraphy

"赤" (seki, or red). It is translated as red.
This character is written by Kanzi, Regular script.

Etymology :　ideograph
大 (big)　　+　　火 (fire)

"The red" is the most luxurious in colors.
It may be a color to symbolize force of the spring.

SAKURA Reflection Tokyo

The cherry blossoms (Sakura) are scattered very early about 1 week.
The climate change of the spring hastens it still more.

Because changes of the weather are intense, the photography chances are several hours every year.


The cherry blossoms petals paint the surface of the water in pink.

March 27 is a day of the cherry tree.




Building materials trees were carried on this waterway in Edo era (1603-1868).
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858) pictured the state of here in "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo".

The title is "Fukagawa, Kiba".
Here is a downtown area of Tokyo, Kiba.


And other works, "oohashi atakeno yuudachi" and "kameido umeyaho".
These works are known for what was copied by Gogh.




Utagawa Hiroshige was also referred to as "Andō Hiroshige".
You may have watched "The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō".
This picture is one of the famousness "Shōno-juku (no.45)" most in that.


The scenery is very different from "Ukiyo-e".
However, the flow of the water is the still same slowly, calmly...


Utagawa Hiroshige might have seen these cherry blossoms, too.


"Cherry blossoms" all of posts, please click here.

Visit James to see more "Weekend Reflections"
Visit maiaT to see more "Macro Flower Pictures"

"Water" Japanese calligraphy

"水" (sui, or mizu). It is translated as water.
This character is written by Kanzi, Regular script.

Etymology :　Hieroglyph
The state that water flows through.

I can understand the conclusion of this kanji most easily.
The creativity of ancient people is splendid.

Cherry Blossom Coming

The flowering information of the cherry tree is announced in everyday news now.
The cherry blossoms are special treatment in all.

In the collection of Japanese photographs, "cherry tree or blossom" relations are published most a lot.
Probably it may be made with them in many libraries.

The person caring for the cherry tree is called "桜守 (SAKURA MORI)" in particular.
Only a cherry tree has such a name.




いにしへのならの都の八重桜　けふ九重ににほひぬるかな
　伊勢大輔 (989?-1060?) : 詞花集, 百人一首(no.61)

A double cherry blossom in full glory at the capital of Nara gorgeous in old days. In the Imperial Court of the capital of this Kyoto, it blooms beautifully as ever today.
　Ise no Taifu (989?-1060?) :　Shika Wakashū, Hyakunin Isshu (no.61)

"Warsaw" Japanese calligraphy

"華沙" (War saw). It is translated as Warsaw of Polish capital.
This character is written by Kanzi, Regular script.

The world main city can be written in Kanji letter.
The kanji is an ideograph, but there is not the meaning in particular on these letters combination themself. However, the individual letter has a good meaning.

Etymology :　華 (Flowery)　　+　　沙 (sand)

It is usage of a special kanji "ateji" called.
It is post before "巴里 (Paris) " is use same as like this.

The city name of this kanji is the most gorgeous in the same kind.
I imagine that the ancient people created "華沙" (Warsaw) as the city where flowers bloom.
The combination of this kanji is very good for spring.

"Cherry" Japanese calligraphy

"桜" (ō, or sakura). It is translated as cherry blossom, cherry tree.
This character is written by Kanzi, Regular script.

Etymology :　Phono-semantic compound
semantic 木 (tree)　　+　　phonetic 嬰 (baby, infant)

The cherry blossom is one of the flowers loved most in the Far East.
It has a short period of the flowering with about 1 week.
The transiency is a characteristic.

Spring has come

It is one of the twenty-four seasons (Solar term) in the old calendar "Shunbun (spring division or center)" on March 21.
As for this, length of Night and Day is the same day.
It is a sign of the full-scale spring in the Far East.

Today is called "Higan", too. It is a Buddhist holiday celebrated in Japan. 　
It is the day when they give thanks to ancestors. (Anequinoctial week)

Higan means a state of the realization that escaped from worldly desires.




The cherry tree has begun to flower from the south area.
Cherry blossoms flowering map of this year.




The place of a famous cherry blossoms information and etc.
I am very sorry that there is not English version.

It is a very short interval, but let's enjoy the beauty of the cherry tree with all of you.




Japanese three major giants of cherry trees
These three of them are registered as the first natural monument of the country on October 12, 1922.

☆yamataka jinndai "God days" zakura
　(Age over 2000 years old)
　Hokuto-shi, Yamanashi Prefecture
　Height of the tree 13.6m, trunk lap 10.6m.
　A giant tree of the maximum grade oldest in Japan.

☆neodani awasumi "light sumi" zakura
　(Age over 1500 years old)
　Motosu-shi, Gifu Prefecture
　Height of the tree 17.2m, trunk lap 9.1m, the spread are East-West 24m, north and south 21m

☆miharu taki "waterfall" zakura
　(Age over 1000 years old)
　miharu-town, Fukushima Prefecture
　Height of the tree 19m, trunk lap 9.5m, spread east and west 22m, north and south 17m

Encounter and Branch

The "Ume (Japanese apricot)" is related with Japanese culture deeply.

There is the pickled ume (Umeboshi) in the everyday eating habits.
The seal of the ume is a venerable family crest.
The ume was one of the important subjects of the 31-syllable Japanese poem (waka) from the ancient times.




As admiration. As practical use.
In the Far East, the ume has been used in various purposes.

The sound of this "UME" words symbolizes Japan.




I am honored that I was able to introduce ume blossom and tree to all of you.

You can look at the pentagon in the center of this flower.
It is the farewell sign of the ume blossom to you.

Until the next year...




吹く風をなにいとひけむ梅の花　散りくる時ぞ香はまさりける
　凡河内躬恒 (859-925) : 拾遺集

Why will you mind wind to blow?
Because the Ume blossom is most fragrant elegantly at the time to be scattered.
　Ōshikōchi Mitsune (859-925) : Shūi Wakashū

" Flowery " Japanese calligraphy

"華" (ka, or hana). It is translated as flowery, illustrious, etc.
his character is written by Kanzi, Seal　script.

Etymology :　Phono-semantic compound
semantic 　艸 (grass) +　垂 (let down)　+　　phonetic 于 (in, on, at)

As for this letter, states in full blossom are recalled.

Spring Haze

I climb the mountain. It is a mountain of the front photographed in this 1st post.
It is Gulf of Karatsu.

This screen is absentminded generally.
The phenomenon is called "春霞 haru kasumi (spring haze)" in the Far East.

The green under the screen is a black pine forest.




春霞たなびきにけり久方の 月の桂も花や咲くらむ
　紀貫之 (866-945) : 後撰集

Spring haze hangs.　It will be that a flower blooms to the Cercidiphyllum growing on the moon.
　Ki no Tsurayuki (866-945) : Gosen Wakashū

"Pure" Japanese calligraphy

"清" (sei, or shō). It is translated as clear, pure, clean, peaceful.
This character is written by Kanzi, Regular script.

Etymology :　Phono-semantic compound
semantic 　水 (water)　　+　　phonetic 　青 (blue)

A meaning and pronunciation match this letter very much.
It is used for a person's name well.

Bonsai Daybreak Reflection

　　　　Night rain mixed with the sleet gets the Japanese apricot wet.

　　　Delicate colors seem to be polished still more.

　　　　Shine of the dawn lets me feel drops of water coolly.

　　　　It is the rare bonsai which pink and snow-white flower are mixed, and bloom.
　　　Fallen petals make up a base.

If you feel some interest in this work, please share your goodwill to me. Thank you.

"Life" Japanese calligraphy

"生" (sei, or nama). It is translated as life, living, lifetime, birth, etc.
This character is written by Kanzi, Cursive script(East Asia).

Etymology :　Semantic
艸 (grass) +　土 (soil, earth)

Form grass grows on the ground.

Strength to go through many strata seems to be expressed.

Peach Color Fountain

This is weeping Ume blossoms (Japanese apricot).
The age of a tree is about 60 years.
About 5m (16.4ft) in height, 8m (26.2ft) in width.




Flower of 60% blooms.

Because it is difficult to bring up a tree into this scale, it is a very valuable Ume tree.




This weeping Ume blossoms is cultivated for landscape gardening in a general house.
In the Far East, often Ume tree or Cherry tree are planted as a pride of one's garden.

A large site and labor time of the pruning are necessary.
It is a very luxurious art hobby.

"Colour" Japanese calligraphy

"色" (shiki, or iro). It is translated as colour, shade, beauty, expression, etc.
This character is written by Kanzi, Regular script.

Etymology :　hieroglyph　or Semantic
人 (man, person)　　+　　卩 (kneel)

The state that a person is piled up, and have sex.
From sexual intercourse, It passed through the features, the complexion and reached a general meaning.

"Shiki" In the Buddhism, this meaning expresses all the material phenomena that are an object of the recognition.

This letter expresses very human essence.

Indigenous Tradition

I introduced Kyoto temple (national treasure, world heritage) and a legend Shinto shrine (another) before.

Today's it is contrastive with them. The interior decoration is hardly considered to be it. There is a brief altar. However, this is a temple.

Seeing from the outside, I am hardly seen in the temple. There is not the priest.
It is the temple of the Frugal village which even does not appear in a map.

Construction and the maintenance of temple and Shinto shrine are very expensive.
However, as for the scale of the temple, I felt that I did not matter to calm the heart of people.



It was surrounded in a forest of the bamboo.

" Faith " Japanese calligraphy

"信" (shinn, or makoto). It is translated as trust, believe, faith, religious, sincerity, etc.
This character is written by Kanzi, Semi-cursive　script.
Regular script is here, look at please.

Etymology :　 Ideogrammic compound

人 (man, person)　　+　　言 (words, speech)

This meaning keep one's words, a promise.
This letter has many good meanings.
Therefore it is used a lot for the name of the man.

Scent of the Spring

　　　Ume blossoms have a few characteristic to other blossoms.
　　　It is the "Fragrance".

　　　It will be wrapped in a faint but very sweet fragrance when you walk Ume forest.
　　　This fragrance has the gentleness that is different from all other flowers.

　　　When blooming is over, the Ume trees prune most branches.
　　　Vitality is very a strong tree.　Of course they resist cold.

　　　While, the cherry trees don't prune basically.

　　　The fragrance of Ume blossoms is "The Spring" itself.
　　　Ume blossoms has been loved in Japan from the ancient times.


　　　This is the most famous Ume blossoms Japanese poem (Waka) and an artist in the Far East.

　　　　こちふかばにほひをこせよ梅のはな　あるじなしとて春なわすれそ　
　　　　　菅原道真 (845-903) : 拾遺和歌集

　　　　If an easterly wind blows, please remember a fragrance, Ume blossoms...
　　　　Even if there is not the master (me), don't forget spring.
　　　　　Sugawara no Michizane (845-903) : Shūi Wakashū


　　　If your heart and mind walk in Ume forest, I am glad.

"Spring" Japanese calligraphy

"春" (shun, or haru). It is translated as spring.
This character is written by Kanzi, Regular Sript.

Etymology :　Phono-semantic compound
「萅」simplified form.

semantic 艸 (grass)　+ 日 (sun)　+　　phonetic 屯 (village)

Weather piles up in the underground.
And the state that the trees and plants grow from there is expressed.