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The Japanese and Cherry Blossoms VOL. 155 APRIL 2021 The Japanese and Cherry Blossoms 6 12 Sharing the Love for Cherry Cherry Blossoms Connecting Blossoms Japan and the United States An interview with Katsuki Toshio, a team In 1912, Japan presented ornamental leader at the Tama Forest Science Garden cherry trees to Washington, D.C., at the Forestry and Forest Products beginning the spread of a love of cherry Research Institute blossoms in the United States. 8 A Cherry Tree as “Ancient as the Age of Mythology” The oldest among Japan’s cherry trees is con- sidered to be the tree growing in the grounds of a Buddhist temple in Yamanashi Prefecture. 14 Cherry Blossoms Bring Spring Colors to Kyoto Features Kyoto is known for its picturesque scenery of many types of cherry blossoms, which bloom one after another for over a month. 10 A Plant Hunter Who Controls the Blooming of the Cherry Blossoms Nishihata Seijun controls the flowering of cut cherry tree branches to satisfy lovers of cherry blossoms in Japan and overseas. 4 22 24 PRIME MINISTER’S TOPICS: FEATURE- SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DIARY RELATED STORY From Swords to Wedding Rings Also Sakura-Inspired Torch Carries “Light of Hope” COPYRIGHT © 2021 CABINET OFFICE OF JAPAN WHERE TO FIND US The views expressed in this magazine by the interviewees Tokyo Narita Airport terminals 1 ● JR East Travel Service Center (Tokyo Narita Airport) ● JR Tokyo Station Tourist and contributors do not necessarily represent the views of Information Center ● Tokyo Tourist Information Center (Haneda Airport, Tokyo Metropolitan Government the Cabinet Office or the Government of Japan. No article Building, Keisei Ueno Station) ● Niigata Airport ● Chubu Centrair International Airport Tourist Information & or any part thereof may be reproduced without the express Service ● Kansai Tourist Information Center (Kansai Int’l Airport) ● Fukuoka Airport Tourist Information ● permission of the Cabinet Office. Copyright inquiries should Prefectural Central Libraries be made through a form available at: www.gov-online.go.jp/eng/mailform/inquiry.html 2 | highlighting japan ISSUE 155, APRIL 2021 Theme for APRIL: THE JAPANESE AND CHERRY BLOSSOMS herry trees and their blossoms have been admired 16 by the Japanese since Handicrafts Made with Cherry antiquity. More than a hundred Tree Bark C cultivars have been bred from Kaba-zaiku, the craft of making things the ten wild cherry species to with the bark of cherry trees, is a folk craft particular to Kakunodate, Akita Prefecture. create blossoms of many hues that blanket Japan in the spring. Cherry blossoms have long been 20 eulogized in literature and the Cherry Blossoms in Ukiyo-e The cherry blossoms depicted in ukiyo-e arts. Confectionery and other woodblock prints reveal that the spring foods are made in the flowers’ flowers have long charmed the people. image and even using the trees’ leaves, while there is a unique handicraft that makes use of 18 cherry tree bark. In this month’s Sakuramochi: A Spring Delicacy issue of Highlighting JAPAN, we Sakuramochi is a confection which, just like explore the Japanese love for the cherry blossoms after which the sweet is named, heralds the arrival of spring. cherry trees and their blossoms. 26 28 30 MY WAY ENJOY DRINKING ARCHITECTURAL TREASURES A German Meister Designing The Sake of Nada Kangiin Shodendo: Exquisite Japanese Gardens Carvings and Cherry Blossoms PRODUCTION The Japan Journal ON THE COVER MANAGING EDITOR Sawaji Osamu Omuro Sakura at Ninna-ji Temple in Kyoto EDITORS Alex Hendy, Chiba Hitoshi, Fujita Mao Photo: Courtesy of Hashimoto Kenji EDITORIAL SUPPORT Kiura Eriko CONTRIBUTORS Kato Kyoko, Sasaki Takashi, Sato Kumiko, EDITORS’ NOTE Sugiyama Mamoru, Umezawa Akira, Yanagisawa Miho Japanese names in this publication are written in Japanese order: DESIGN Imai Mei, Okadome Hirofumi family name first, personal name last. PHOTOS Aizawa Tadashi APRIL 2021 | 3 Prime Minister’s Diary G7 LEADERS’ VIDEO CONFERENCE ister emphasized the importance Japan attaches to the COVAX facil- ity as well as Japan’s commitment for a new financial contribution of two hundred million US dollars to its mechanism of supporting developing countries. Prime Minister Suga explained Japan’s basic stance towards China, which is to assert its posi- tion and to demand the Chinese side to take concrete actions. The Prime Minister also expressed Japan’s concerns on attempts to unilaterally change the status quo in the East and South China Sea. Prime Minister Suga stated Japan’s determination to host the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer as a symbol Photograph of the Prime Minister attending the video conference of overcoming the COVID-19. He also stated that Japan would pro- n February 19, 2021, shaping a post-COVID-19 interna- ceed with preparation in close Prime Minister Suga tional order. coordination with the IOC to host OYoshihide attended the Prime Minister Suga explained the Games in safe and secure man- G7 leaders’ video conference. This to other leaders that he is taking all ner. All the G7 leaders supported meeting was called for and hosted best possible measures based on Japan’s determination and their by the United Kingdom, this year’s what Japan has learned from the support was expressed in the G7 Presidency. experience in fighting with COVID- Leaders’ Statement. This was Prime Minister Suga’s 19, with his strong determination first appearance at the G7 virtual to protect lives and livelihoods of Summit. Prime Minister Suga people. He pointed out that this exchanged views with other G7 has led to be a clear progress. The leaders on issues such as equitable Prime Minister stated that vac- distribution of vaccines against cines play a critical role in contain- the COVID-19 and international ing the spread of infection, and cooperation for future pandemics that it is important to ensure a fair preparedness. The G7 leaders con- access to vaccines and accelerate Photograph of the Prime Minister attending firmed their close collaboration in their distribution. The Prime Min- the video conference Text: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan / Photos: Cabinet Public Relations Office 4 | highlighting japan Feature THE JAPANESE AND CHERRY BLOSSOMS THE JAPANESE AND CHERRY BLOSSOMS Cherry trees and their blossoms have been admired by the Japanese since antiquity. More than a hundred cultivars have been bred from the ten wild cherry species to create blossoms of many hues that blanket Japan in the spring. Cherry blossoms have long been eulogized in literature and the arts. Confectionery and other foods are made in the flowers’ image and even using the trees’ leaves, while there is a unique handicraft that makes use of cherry tree bark. In this month’s issue of Highlighting JAPAN, we explore the Japanese love for cherry trees and their blossoms. Photos and image: Courtesy of Kakunodate Cooperative Craft Union; ikana / PIXTA; Public domain, via the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York APRIL 2021 | 5 Feature THE JAPANESE AND CHERRY BLOSSOMS Sharing the Love for Cherry Blossoms herry blossoms are one of the most famil- old cultivar, with commercialization dating back iar flowers to the Japanese people. We to the mid-nineteenth century when the people of Casked Katsuki Toshio, a team leader at the Somei Village in Edo (present-day Toshima City, Tama Forest Science Garden at the Forestry and Tokyo) began to sell it under the name Yoshino- Forest Products Research Institute, about the his- zakura, which derives from Mt. Yoshino, a famous tory and characteristics of cherry trees in Japan. Yamazakura viewing spot in present-day Nara Prefecture. How many wild species of cherry tree are there in Japan? Why is ‘Somei-yoshino’ such a familiar cherry blossom across Japan today? There are approximately 100 wild species of sakura (cherry trees) distributed across Asia, Because its large petals and beautiful blossoms are North America, Europe and other parts of the well suited for appreciation. Also, the tree grows Northern Hemisphere, and 10 wild species in fast and becomes large enough for blossom view- Japan including Yamazakura (Cerasus jamasakura, ing within approximately five years of it being Japanese mountain cherry). In addition, there are planted. Since the Meiji period (1868–1912), when more than 100 cultivars in Japan that have been people started planting ‘Somei-yoshino’ in parks, artificially bred from wild species. One of the rep- schools and other public places, the cultivar has resentative cultivars is ‘Somei-yoshino’ (Cerasus spread all around the nation. ‘Somei-yoshino’ × yedoensis ‘Somei-yoshino’), which is thought to is propagated by grafting. Grafting is a method be a hybrid of the Edohigan (Cerasus itozakura, for growing trees by inserting the scion of a par- Spring cherry) and Oshimazakura (Cerasus speci- ent tree for propagation into the top of rootstock osa, Oshima cherry) species. It is not a particularly that is cut close to the ground. By this method, it (From left) Kumanozakura blossoms; cherry blossoms on Mt. Yoshino; grafting All photos: Courtesy of Katsuki Toshio 6 | highlighting japan is possible to stably propagate cherry trees with blossoms that are the same size, shape and color as those of the parent tree. In 2018 your identification of the Kumanozakura (Cerasus kumanoensis, Kumano cherry) was pub- lished and recognized as Japan’s first new species of wild cherry in approximately 100 years. Please tell us about it. Kumanozakura grows wild in mountainous areas across Mie, Nara and Wakayama Prefectures. It Katsuki Toshio, a team leader at the Tama Forest Science Garden looks like Yamazakura and was thought to be one at the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, with Kumanozakura blooming behind him of the variations of Yamazakura, so it had not been recognized as an independent species. I feel tourists’ attention to? that Kumanozakura blooming in a natural forest have a simple beauty, different from the gorgeous I hope that in addition to enjoying the blossoms cherry blossoms that bloom in various gardens visitors will also consider the history and culture and parks.
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