🌸 Why Sakura Means More Than Springtime in Japan
Sakura and the Japanese Soul: More Than Just a Pretty Flower
Why Sakura Means More Than Springtime in Japan
Why does sakura (cherry blossom) hold such a special place in the hearts of Japanese people?
Every spring, Japan is wrapped in clouds of white and soft pink flowers. Tens of millions of people travel across the country just to see the blossoms.
The sight of delicate petals dancing in the wind, like a fleeting snowstorm, takes your breath away — often with a touch of sadness.
There are around 1,400 famous cherry blossom spots across Japan, and the sakura season is said to generate over 1 trillion yen in economic impact each year. But sakura does more than attract visitors — it transforms the atmosphere of entire towns and stirs emotions in those who see it.
In Brisbane, Australia, where I live and teach Japanese, jacaranda trees bloom in brilliant purple each spring.
While they, too, signal the change of seasons, they don’t seem to resonate as deeply with people’s hearts and cultural identity as sakura does in Japan.
As a Japanese teacher abroad, I’m often asked: “Why do Japanese people love sakura so much?” That question always reminds me — sakura is more than just a beautiful flower. It’s memory, it’s feeling, it’s part of who we are.
In this article, I’ll explore the history, symbolism, and unique customs behind Japan’s beloved cherry blossom.
History of Sakura in Japan
Tracking the Blooming Date for 1200 Years
So how long have Japanese people had a love affair with sakura?
This deep affection goes back over a thousand years. One of the earliest written records of hanami (cherry blossom viewing) appears in the 日本後紀 (Nihon Kōki), a historical chronicle compiled in 812 during the Heian period.
Ever since then, Japan has been recording the blooming dates of cherry blossoms, creating a remarkable archive of over 1,200 years of seasonal data. Very few countries have tracked the blooming of a flower with such consistency for over a millennium.
Interestingly, until around the 1820s, the number of days it took for sakura to reach full bloom from the beginning of the year remained remarkably consistent.
However, after that, the data began to show a gradual shift — full bloom dates started arriving earlier and earlier, likely influenced by climate change.
Sakura and Weather Forecast
Japanese people’s love for sakura can even be seen in the national weather forecast.
Since 1951, Japanese meteorological agencies have included something called 桜前線 (sakura zensen or the “cherry blossom front”) in their spring forecasts, typically from mid-March to early May.
This forecast tracks the expected blooming dates of cherry blossoms across different regions of Japan.
It also reports the current blooming status using uniquely detailed expressions, such as:
sanbu zaki (三分咲き – 30% in bloom),
gobu zaki (五分咲き – 50% in bloom),
shichibu zaki (七分咲き – 70% in bloom), and
mankai (満開 – full bloom).
Very few countries monitor the blooming of a flower with such precision and attention — another example of Japan’s deep connection to nature and seasonal change.
Symbolism
What does sakura symbolise?
The beautiful and fleeting nature of cherry blossoms has long lived in the hearts of the Japanese people, symbolising certain emotions and moments in life.
Let’s take music as an example — there have been countless sakura-themed songs in Japan, each reflecting a different shade of feeling.
Here are the top five themes most commonly associated with sakura:
1. Farewell
2. Graduation and new beginnings
3. Love
4. Youth and memories
5. Transience
As this ranking shows, sakura is deeply loved in Japan as a symbol of life’s turning points — both joyful and sorrowful — and the emotions that accompany them.
Sakura appears not only in songs, but throughout everyday life in Japan.
It is used as an emblem by the National Police Agency, the Japan Self-Defence Force, and even on the 100-yen coin — a quiet presence woven into the fabric of society.
In the language of flowers (花言葉 hanakotoba), sakura carries meanings such as spiritual beauty (精神美 / seishin bi), purity (純潔 / junketsu), and graceful femininity (優雅な女性 / yūga na josei).
These reflect aesthetic values that have long been cherished in Japanese culture.
It is said that these meanings come from the nature of sakura itself — so beautiful, and yet so brief.
Which of these meanings resonates with you the most?
Hidden Stories and Surprises
Sakura against Flooding?
It may surprise you to learn that sakura was once used for disaster prevention.
Along the Sumida River in Tokyo, there are around 900 cherry trees today. Yoshimune Tokugawa, the 8th shogun of the Edo period, is said to have ordered the planting of cherry trees along the riverbanks in the 18th century.
While the primary aim was to encourage public enjoyment and beautify the area, some say there was a more strategic reason behind it: By attracting crowds of people to view the blossoms and walk along the embankments, the ground would become compacted over time — helping to reinforce the riverbanks against flooding and other disasters.
Hidden Meaning of Sakura
Sakura also has a curious role in Japanese language.
While “sakura” typically evokes images of beauty and emotional reflection, the same word written in katakana (サクラ) refers to “fake audience members” — people paid to fill empty seats or give positive reviews to create a sense of popularity.
This usage dates back to the Edo period, when performers would hire people to liven up audiences in kabuki theatres. These “sakura” would enthusiastically cheer, stir up energy, and then quietly vanish — much like the cherry blossoms themselves, beautiful and brief.
Sakura Today
And then, of course, there’s 花見 hanami, the beloved tradition of flower viewing.
It is customary for people to gather in large groups to enjoy picnic meals and sake under the blooming cherry trees.
While quietly sipping sake and admiring the flowers is considered refined and elegant, it’s not uncommon for these gatherings to evolve into lively — and sometimes rowdy — parties.
In this way, sakura continues to be a reflection of both serenity and celebration in Japanese culture.
まとめ Conclusion
Sakura is more than just a beautiful flower – it’s a reflection of how Japanese people feel, remember, and move through life.
Just like sakura, many beautiful things are brief – and that’s what makes them so unforgettable.
Is there a flower that means something special to you?
As a Japanese teacher living abroad, I find myself appreciating sakura even more – not just for what it looks like, but for what it means.
