Trivia about cherry blossoms: a roundup of fun facts to make springtime hanami even more enjoyable

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I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”
Composition nerdmutō
Started performing in bands in junior high school. Influenced by Japanese rock and UK rock, spent over 10 years continuing band activities while creating original songs. Later began producing Vocaloid tracks using Hatsune Miku, with total plays of released songs surpassing 10,000. Has five years of experience writing for music magazines. Currently works as a music writer, director, and composer, keeping a ground-level perspective on the scene by attending live shows across Japan. Now performs at live houses in Tokyo, showcasing guitar playing centered on acoustic guitar and informed by knowledge of chord analysis and guitar scales. Also writes leveraging a broad knowledge of music genres.

Cherry blossoms, which bloom with beautiful flowers in spring, are a familiar plant to the Japanese, aren’t they? Of course, we often enjoy hanami (flower viewing), and you probably also encounter cherry blossoms frequently in works themed around spring.

In this article, we’ve gathered facts and trivia about sakura, which have long been loved by the Japanese.

We’ll introduce bite-sized knowledge that will make you more of an expert on cherry blossoms—stories, history, and more—about these trees that bloom in shades of pink and white.

Deepening your knowledge of sakura, a quintessential symbol of spring, will help you enjoy the cherry blossom season even more.

Be sure to check it out!

Trivia about cherry blossoms: A collection of fun facts to make spring hanami even more enjoyable (31–40)

The cherry blossom blooming declaration is determined by 58 sample trees.

From around late March, you start hearing news from across Japan announcing the blooming of cherry blossoms.

In fact, the official determination of cherry blossom blooming is based on designated sample trees in each prefecture.

When 5 to 6 blossoms open on a sample tree, it is considered to have begun blooming, and when over 80% of the buds have opened, it is deemed to be in full bloom.

As a rule, Somei Yoshino trees are used as the sample trees, and there’s a reason for this.

Somei Yoshino is a cultivated clone variety; it does not produce seeds and is propagated by grafting.

Because Somei Yoshino trees nationwide share the same genetic makeup, they bloom all at once under the same weather conditions, making it easier to predict blooming times.

In Hokkaido and Okinawa, where Somei Yoshino does not grow well due to cold or heat, alternative cherry varieties are used as the sample trees.

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In conclusion

We’ve introduced trivia and fun facts about cherry blossoms, which bloom beautifully in spring. Perhaps this has also given you a chance to learn about their characteristics and how they’ve been cherished in Japan. When you go cherry-blossom viewing, it’s a great idea to share these stories and your knowledge with family and friends. Why not deepen your understanding by learning the traits of various types of cherry blossoms—including well-known varieties like the Somei Yoshino?