The Grace of the Cherry Blossoms

In spring, the season “primavera” – “before summer,” you must recall the cherry blossom trees in their full blush blossom. This is a seasonal sensation of spring in Japan. As the freshmen enter the gates of their new schools, as the juniors take over the classrooms that used to belong to those before them, as the seniors start to look forward to their lives after high school, there are always cherry blossoms at their backs.
But these beautiful soft colors are granted only because of the Japanese environment. For example, you probably won’t see too many people who would come up with cherry blossoms as a symbol of spring in Europe or America. Although there are quite marvelous cherry blossom trees in Washington D.C., America, the festival for the trees is run by the Japanese community, and most people seem to think it is an event that is either Chinese or Japanese.
Although these other countries also have their own wonders and events that are given such attention, what we have right now is the cherry blossoms, petals overflowing from the widely held sturdy branches, backing us up, preparing us for another new start. Though grass on the other side might look tastier, our grass can give us not only the happiness of a new season, but distinguish the prologue to a new life. With the cherry blossoms at your back, may you take a fresh new start with all good tides at your side.
117-2 Shifumi Nagase