The Cherry Blossoms of April

In Japan, the start of April marks the beginning of the yearly cycle: new homes, new jobs, new school years, etc. It is also the time when the cherry trees bloom, exploding with pink flowers that last for a very short time, which people here regard as poetically symbolic of the bittersweet, ephemeral nature of life. Folks spend time with friends, family, and co-workers doing 花見 (hanami: cherry blossom viewing), relaxing under these lovely trees in the (sometimes) perfect weather, eating and drinking.

At our university, the start of the new year brings new teachers and students and the burst of beauty from the many cherry trees.

hanami 2hanami 4hanami 3

hanami 1

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Praise for The Rabbit Skinners, on sale by Amazon Kindle US for 99 cents April 4-11.

“…the author artfully raises provocative questions about the fraught relationship between race and institutional power (and) there’s plenty of gripping action, cinematically depicted.” – Kirkus Reviews

 

 

14 thoughts on “The Cherry Blossoms of April

  1. My parents lived in Japan for three years and I was fortunate to visit during June and July 1999. I fell in love with the country and did not want to leave, but unfortunately I had to go home to the states. Thank you for sharing these pictures. The people and the culture are among the most beautiful on the planet.

    Liked by 1 person

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