Japan Loves Sakura So Much There Are More Than 70 Words For Cherry Blossoms
Cherry blossoms are the go-to symbol for Japan. They create a beautiful display of petals that come in white and pink. Locals and visitors alike love to watch them changing the landscape from barren trees in the winter to luscious clouds of flowers adding color to the landscape, which is why they’ve inspired so much throughout Japan's history. A time where people can look forward to the departure of snow and the cold with cherry blossoms in bloom, there are a lot of great things happening. There are lots of beautiful hanami (cherry blossom viewing parties) taking place across the country
We can see how important the cherry blossoms mean to Japanese culture with their influence on food, poems, stories, proverbs and just about everything else across the country at this time of year. For example, cherry blossoms are even encoded into the language and proverbs. Japanese people use at least 70 words to describe the beauty of sakura and other sakura-related activities – these are some of our favourites.
Hanafubuki: ‘flower snowstorm’
When cherry blossoms reach full bloom, they release their petals in a light breeze and when they do, they look like snowflakes blowing in the wind. One of my personal favorite sakura experiences.
Hanamizake: ‘cherry blossom-viewing sake’
Sake is often drunk at hanami parties, which are traditional celebrations of the cherry blossom season. Sometimes people may add some cherry blossom flowers or petals to their cup of sake such as the Natural Dried Sakura you can find from SpringSakura.com.
Hatsuzakura: ‘the first sakura’
After a long, chilly winter, the first cherry blossoms of the year arrive.
Asazakura: ‘morning sakura’
People like to watch the cherry blossoms in the morning because they're soaked with morning dew and look really beautiful.
Adazakura: ‘futile sakura’
Cherry blossoms are a shining example of how quickly life goes. One day they're there, and then all of the sudden, they're gone."
Sakura zensen: ‘sakura front’
Japan puts out an annual cherry blossom forecast for those who are looking for when the front will be making its way up the country. It starts in southern Japan and winds up somewhere in Hokkaido, which can make things tricky to track.
Hanagasumi: ‘sakura haze’
When a lot of cherry trees are all in full bloom at the same time, it creates a sight that is blurred with flowers. I suggest visiting Mt. Yoshino is Nara to see a mountain full of sakura!
Hana yori dango: ‘rice dumplings over flowers’
An old saying in Japan meaning that substance is more important than style. The phrase is meant to be a funny observation about how people are often more focussed on the food and drink at hanami parties than actually taking the time to enjoy the beautiful blossoming flowers.
Sakurabito: ‘sakura person’
Sakura lovers and people that love hanami celebrations. I think this accurately describes us and our customers at SpringSakura.com
Ubazakura: ‘old-woman sakura’
This is a metaphor for a woman who, although having aged, is still beautiful and alluring like the beautiful sakura in Spring.
Hazakura: ‘leaf sakura’
The time is coming close when cherry blossom trees start sprouting green leaves--the last chapter of the cherry blossom season. Although some species of Sakura do bloom sooner than others, it’s possible to see these leaves sprouting before other sakura even begin to show their beautiful flowers.
Mikkaminumanosakura: ‘cherry blossoms for three days’
An idiom used for situations that happen quickly and dramatically, like cherry blossoms blooming and then falling.
Hanakumori: ‘cloudy flower’
"Cherry blossom rains", a phrase used to describe the weather during cherry blossom season which can often be cloudy.
Ame no sakura: ‘rain’s sakura’
When it's raining and the cherry blossoms are in full bloom it looks really beautiful - enough to describe.
Yozakura: ‘night sakura’
Taking in the beauty of cherry blossoms by night.
Sakuragari: ‘sakura people’
The people who go out looking for these beautiful cherry trees and admire them. While tattoos are not as common with Japanese people, many people may even go as far as to get a cherry blossom tattoo.
Iezakura: ‘house sakura’
If you are lucky enough to have space, you can plant your own sakura in your yard. Or grow your own sakura bonsai.
Zanou: ‘remaining sakura’
Some cherry blossoms manage to stay in bloom for most of the year, like these.
Special thanks to the team at SpringSakura.com for sharing their article about all of the beautiful Japanese words centered around Cherry Blossoms.
