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.
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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
Past the Isle of Dogs 
Beautiful cherry blossoms!
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Yes, they are! Not even digital!
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So lovely!! The symbolism attached to them is wonderful as well.
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I way agree.
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Great pictures! Haha I just posted a Sakura post as well. Thanks for the follow!
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Back at you, WDVB! Search under Hanami, Sakura, cherry blossoms, etc., you’ll find thousands of similar pictures. It’s a community effort.
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When I was young, I called them “cheery” blossoms. My mother never corrected me. Thank you for the lovely photos and memory.
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Mary Fran, thanks for sharing that heartwarming memory!
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So beautiful..one of my favourite trees almost etheral just looking at them always gives a feeling of joy and peace…Thank you for the follow 🙂
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Thank YOU!
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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.
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You visited within about a month of when I moved here.
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Beautiful!!! I have always loved the beauty of the cherry blossoms in Japan!
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