[For Seniors] Conversation Starters! A Collection of Trivia and Quizzes About Cherry Blossoms

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.

10 meters

When planting multiple cherry trees, you should pay attention to the spacing. If the trees are planted too close together, it can negatively affect sunlight exposure and root development. Therefore, it’s recommended to plant them with at least 10 meters of space between each tree.

Pass

Cherry blossoms are often used as a flower symbolizing “success,” especially for school admissions and job placements. Because cherry blossoms bloom in spring, they evoke new beginnings and positive outcomes, and are therefore used in congratulatory telegrams and messages. It is said that this practice began in 1965, when Waseda University sent telegrams with the phrase “Sakura saku” (the cherry blossoms bloom) for successful candidates and “Sakura chiru” (the cherry blossoms fall) for unsuccessful candidates when announcing exam results, after which other universities adopted the usage as well.

Rosaceae

Cherry trees are classified in the genus Prunus of the Rosaceae family. The Rosaceae family also includes many familiar plants such as roses, apples, and pears.

March 27

March 27 has been designated as “Sakura Day.” It is said that the date was chosen based on a wordplay: sakura ga saku (3×9=27). Incidentally, it was established by the Japan Sakura Association in 1992.

pale yellow-green

Gyoikou cherry trees are known for producing flowers of an unusual color when they have just begun to bloom, unlike other cherry blossoms. That color is a pale yellow-green (a light green with a yellowish tint). The name “Gyoikou” is said to come from the yellow-green hue used in the garments of aristocrats.