Hanami: The Japanese Tradition of Cherry Blossom Viewing
Utagawa Hiroshige - Eight Views in the Environs of Edo - "Evening Glow at Koganei"
As spring is drawing near in New Zealand, I thought it would be a lovely time to look at one of Japan’s most beautiful spring traditions: hanami (花見), the appreciation of cherry blossoms.
Hanami literally means “flower viewing” and is the tradition of gathering beneath the cherry trees to enjoy their short-lived blooms. In Japan, friends and family often picnic together, share food and drinks, and take time to simply appreciate the beauty of the sakura.
What makes cherry blossoms particularly meaningful is how fleeting they are. The flowers bloom beautifully for only a short time before falling, reminding us of the temporary nature of life and beauty. This idea is closely connected to the Japanese concept of mono no aware 物の哀れ an appreciation of the beauty of things precisely because they do not last forever.
Sakura in Japanese Tattooing
Cherry blossoms are also one of the most recognisable motifs in traditional Japanese tattooing.
Within irezumi, sakura can represent the fleeting nature of life, beauty, change and the importance of appreciating the present moment. Their delicate flowers also create a beautiful contrast against stronger imagery such as dragons, tigers, warriors and waves.
Traditional Japanese tattooing draws heavily from the natural world, with flowers and seasonal elements helping to create a sense of time and place within a larger composition.
Kasamatsu Shiro 1935 - Cherry Blossom Viewing- Tokyo Ohmiya Hachiman
Experience Hanami in New Zealand
You don’t need to travel to Japan to enjoy a little bit of hanami. New Zealand has some beautiful places to experience cherry blossom season in spring.
🌸 Auckland
Cornwall Park
Auckland Botanic Gardens
Auckland Domain
🌸 Wellington
Aston Norwood Gardens
🌸 Nelson
Miyazu Japanese Garden
🌸 Christchurch
Hagley Park
Cherry blossom season generally falls around September and October, although flowering times can vary depending on the weather and location.
So this spring, why not find some cherry blossoms, take a picnic and enjoy them while they’re here?
Although hanami itself is fleeting, the beauty of cherry blossoms can be carried with you forever through a tattoo.
Thank you for reading.
Utagawa Hiroshige - One Hundred Famous Views of Edo - "Suijin Grove and Massaki on the Sumida River"