[Sakura Quiz] Trivia & Fun Facts Quiz about Cherry Blossoms for Kids

Somei Yoshino (Yoshino cherry)

The most widely planted cherry blossom variety in Japan is Somei Yoshino. Somei Yoshino trees bloom beautifully in parks, schools, along rivers, and many other places throughout Japan, delighting many people. Because all the Somei Yoshino trees in Japan are clones with identical genes, they blossom all at once in spring.

sakura mochi

Sakura mochi is a pink Japanese sweet that evokes spring, wrapped in pickled cherry leaves. There are two visually distinct types: the Kanto-style “Chomeiji” and the Kansai-style “Domyoji,” but both use cherry leaves. The leaves are salt-pickled and wrapped around each type of mochi.

graceful woman

The general flower language for cherry blossoms is “a graceful woman.” Each variety of cherry blossom also has its own meaning: Somei Yoshino stands for “nobility,” double-flowered cherry (yaezakura) for “intellect,” and wild mountain cherry (yamazakura) for “smiling at you,” among others. All of them are fitting meanings for the cherry blossoms that create Japan’s beautiful spring.

poison

Cherry leaves contain a toxin called coumarin. In the amount used to wrap sakuramochi, there’s no need to worry, but eating too much is not good for your health. Coumarin also has antibacterial properties, so it is used in medicines and other products.

Tokyo Metropolis

Each of Japan’s 47 prefectures has its own designated flower, and Tokyo’s prefectural flower is the Somei Yoshino cherry. Tokyo is home to many famous cherry-blossom viewing spots, such as Ueno Onshi Park, Yoyogi Park, and Rikugien Garden, so be sure to visit them when you come to Tokyo in the spring.

to solidify the ground

Cherry trees can be found in many places, but many people probably picture them blooming along rivers. The reason there are so many cherry trees by rivers is that planting them helps stabilize the soil. They not only delight viewers with their beauty but also play a role in disaster prevention.

Cherry blossom

“Sakura” is expressed as “cherry blossom” in English. “Cherry” refers to the cherry fruit, and “blossom” means flower. By the way, cherry blossoms can be seen not only in Japan but also in many places around the world, such as the United States, Canada, China, and South Korea, so be sure to check out cherry blossoms around the world too!