Why do the Japanese love cherry blossoms?

Something spring is always associated with is 花見 (hanami). I have been hearing about it since I came here in August last year. Hanami, I learned, is basically when you sit underneath blooming cherry trees and eat an お弁当 (obentou, lunch box), with your work friends or loved ones. Others drink 酒 (sake) or just take a stroll under the trees to take it all in.

Initially, I was surprised and slightly disappointed when I heard about what it was, especially after all the hype. How could everyone be so crazy about tiny little flowers that only bloomed for two weeks max.
I realized that maybe I didn’t understand the Japanese people’s love for and fascination with one of their countries emblem.

I honestly wanted in on this happiness that sparked in a Japanese person’s heart when they talked about cherry blossoms. I started to politely ask people in Tottori what they liked about Cherry trees.

I got many responses. All of which were along the same lines.

“きれいに咲いて、「スパッ」っと散るから。”
They bloom beautifully, and fall quickly.

“しぼんだ格好しないから。”
They never appear withered.

A man at a shrine even compared it to the honorably and boldness of 切腹 (seppuku).

Another man, rather than answering the question, went on for a couple of minutes about his own cherry tree. He expressed his excitement to see his little cherry blossoms bloom after working hard to save his tree from a sickness or infection that he struggled to get rid of.

One rather blunt woman said,
“聞いても仕方が無い。自分で見れば分かる。”
It is useless to ask. You will know when you see for yourself.

I guess she is right. I will have to see for myself. I become more and more excited for the cherry blossoms to bloom as special seasonal products line the shelves in stores, as fliers for hanami events start circulating, and as the weather finally gets warmer.

There are many kinds of cherry trees, but this one is my favorite!
Here is a post on おじいちゃん’s (my grandfather’s) blog!
What’s awesome about it?
Well, his cherry tree is shaped like an umbrella and his blog post shows how look looks over a one year period.