It also grows naturally in other countries.

Cherry blossoms are famous as a symbol of spring in Japan, but are there places where they grow naturally outside Japan? The answer is: they also grow wild in other countries. Cherries (the subgenus Cerasus) are widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere, with reports of three species ranging from Europe to western Siberia, three species in Southeast Asia, and 33 species of the subgenus in China.

It has anti-aging effects.

Extracts derived from cherry blossom petals are also used in cosmetics and food products. This extract is expected to have beneficial effects on the skin. Chief among them is its anti-aging effect: it helps inhibit glycation, which causes spots, sagging, and wrinkles, and it promotes collagen production, thereby rejuvenating the skin.

In order to prevent flooding, we want cherry-blossom viewers to tamp down the embankment.

In the Edo period, heavy rains often caused rivers to flood. As a countermeasure, cherry trees were planted on the embankments with the idea that crowds of cherry-blossom viewers would help strengthen them. In fact, as many visitors came each year for hanami, their foot traffic naturally packed down the embankments, transforming the soil into a condition that could withstand rising waters.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Originally, hanami meant spending leisurely time composing poems beneath the cherry trees blooming in one’s garden. However, Toyotomi Hideyoshi hosted a large-scale flower-viewing party at Daigo-ji—still a famous cherry blossom spot today—inviting a great many people. On that occasion, he treated attendees to renowned sake and confections sent as tributes from all over Japan. It’s said that this event marked the shift toward the style of enjoying banquets while viewing cherry blossoms.

Morning cherry blossom

“Asazakura” refers to cherry blossoms blooming in the morning dew. In the world of haiku, in addition to “asazakura” (morning cherry blossoms), there is also a seasonal word called “yūzakura” (evening cherry blossoms). There are many seasonal words that use cherry blossoms, so it’s fun to look them up. While nighttime cherry blossoms have become popular lately, morning cherry blossoms are also pure and beautiful.

Because the temperature is high and it doesn’t get cold enough

Somei-yoshino cherry trees awaken from dormancy after being exposed to winter cold (low temperatures) and bloom in spring. They need a certain range of temperatures from autumn through winter, and then they flower as the temperature rises. In Okinawa, the average temperature is around 18°C even in winter, so it doesn’t get cold enough, making it difficult for Somei-yoshino to bloom.

You might have a strong image of cherry trees as something to admire, but cherry wood is also considered highly valuable as a material. Cherry wood is characterized by its hardness and relatively good resistance to moisture. The types mainly used for lumber are yamazakura (Japanese mountain cherry), shiuri-zakura (Chinese cherry birch), and uwanmizuzakura (bird cherry), among others. However, the amount that can be harvested for timber is limited, which makes it considered a precious resource.