About: Sakura Flower

(image from macdevcenter.com)

The Sakura, or cherry blossom, is a small flower that blooms in the spring. Several cultures of the indigenious countries that the sakura is home to have different meanings. In China, the blossom symbolizes feminine beauty, the feminine principle, or love in the language of herbs and plants. However, in Japan, the flower represents the transient nature of life, because of their short blooming times.

The flower has also been mentioned in Buddhist practices for their short nature of life. During WWII suicide fighter pilots would paint the blossom on the side of their plane, and even take branches of the plant with them. This was known to be an act of sacrifice of youth for nationalism and militarism to the emperor during war times. The government has also encouraged people to believe the souls of the fallen are a reincarnation within the blossom’s blooming cycles.

Besides China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan, countries like the Philippines, Canada and even the United States also have these flowers. The Philippines do not have the exact flower, but it does resemble it. In Vancouver, Canada there is a annual cherry blossoming festival held. Germany also has a special orchid.

In 1912, Japan gave the United States over 3,000 sakura trees to represent of the then growing friendship. Japan renewed this friendship again in the 1960’s with almost 4,000 more trees, these trees can be viewed in Washington D.C. The trees are also a huge tourist attractions in California, Georgia, New York and Philadelphia.

About a week before the new year started [2008] Samehada and I (Rae) were talking about what to make as the logo of Jrock & the Visual kei. I looked over to some small festival lanterns I bought from a shop about two weeks ago. After talking about it with her for some time, a sakura was drawen up and the color levels adjusted to what it is today.

~ Article was written by DespairsRae