This year being the 100th anniversary of Japan’s gift of cherry blossom trees to both Washington, DC, and New York City has sparked even more interest than usual in this cultural symbol of Japan. Cherry blossoms are everywhere, and not just the physical flower. Thanks to a warm winter, many different species of cherry trees in our area bloomed a month early, but the fascination with the flower continues to manifest itself in New York.
The Kanzan cherry trees cooperated over the weekend during the Sakura Cherry Blossom Festival at Sakura Park at 122nd Street and Riverside Drive. The pink and white blossoms were brilliant on a day where the Harlem and Japanese communities in New York City celebrated the 100th anniversary of cherry blossoms in New York.
Cherry blossoms took many forms at Japan Society, where the non-profit put on tremendous, day-long homage to the iconic flower. Sakura took the form of live flowers, paper cut-outs, origami, block prints, and calligraphy.
The cherry blossom is a popular theme at the US Postal Service as well. In late March the USPS issued the Cherry Blossom Centennial forever stamp to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the trees in DC.
Even Angry Birds love cherry blossoms. Finnish company Rovio released a version of the ultra-popular mobile game with cherry blossoms, Mount Fuji, ohanami (cherry blossom viewing), onigiri, and dango.
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin….. so true a line by Shakespeare…… and I believe,cherry blossoms kisses the nights in April,making the surroundings perfumed….. and after a short span of life,they float away….leaving beautiful memories behind……. why,dont ,we human beings act like cherry blossoms…..