The Day of Cherry Blossoms

Unexpectedly I am now in Japan. It’s been over 10 years not to see cherry blossoms in Japan since I had left. It’s a blessing to be visiting this country in spring.

My parents’ home, where I grew up, is located in the small town called “Thousands cherry trees” (sen bon zakura). I kept missing its peak time as I am not a frequent traveler to this country, I was again blown away its fleeting beauty.

Having been called Thousands Cherry Trees, the township official has acknowledged there would be about 750 trees exsist.. Along the small river 30 seconds from my parents’ home, soft breeze blows the flowering cherries into the air like pale pink snow.. Quite a view.


All the fallen cherry blossoms make beds of petals both on the ground and on the banks of the river. It’s usually a banal, quiet suburb but only this season there are many people flooding into this tiny town to enjoy walking and having picnics day and night..

I didn’t know that its flowers can bloom coming right out from its trunk. My dad told me that cherry tree can grow into a decent size in 10-15 years, quicker than other trees.

You see how these cherry trees form such a gorgeous arch across the river. My dad and Shin-Shin, westy girl are seen in this photograph. I like this photo as it also shows a little blue graffiti on the left as an old remark to tell the story once this town was known as part of the turf of a local unhelmetted biker kids Bousou zoku back in 1970s and 1980s… It’s sort of nostalgia for me..