Who says there are only Sakura flowers in Japan? In the United States also exist. Not only that, it celebrated the emergence of interest, especially in the spring. At that time pretty flowers are blooming. You could say, once a year celebration was waiting for everyone. As a result, Sakura flowers are already beautiful so feel very special celebration at the moment.

If the Japanese call interest belonging to family Rosaceae and the genus Prunus is Sakura, the Americans and the British call it cherry blossom as a flower of the cherry tree, and indeed “cherry” in English is called ‘Japanese Flowering Cherry’. To mention cherries, Japanese people say “sakuranbo”.

Sakura, as well as chrysanthemums, is a Japanese cultural icon. Please note, the cherry blossoms are most popular there is Somei Yoshino. The flowers are white with a pink tinge in the middle that made it increasingly looks cherry classic.

Somei Yoshino is a favorite of many types of cherry blossom in Japan than Yamazakura, Yaezakura, Shidarezakura, Kikuzakura, Shogetzu, kanzan, Fugenzo, Ichiy? and Ukon. Type the latter has a different color is yellow. While the most unique species are Shidarezakura (weeping cherry) which has branches sticking down like drops of tears? Popular in America is the kind of Somei Yoshino and Yaezakura.

Sakura began to blossom around the month of April and May. While there are several types of blooming late fall or mid winter. Sakura was hanging season. As the warm air, they will bloom more quickly, while when the air is cooler, they bloom more slowly.

Left fissure also quite short, only lasted about a week or ten days. When broke, that’s when Japanese people usually celebrate Hanami (flower viewing), which is a picnic with friends or family under a row of trees. Certainly in the bright air and the wind was too strong.

Beauty sakura has a spiritual and philosophical meaning of human life. For the Japanese, the flower symbolizes joy and sorrow, and reminds people to always be grateful and appreciate the life and death. In addition, sakura also reminds us that everything has a opposite. There are sad, some happy. There is life, there comes a time to die. There was a time broke beautifully, and there are times when falling. And the celebration of the cherry blossoms, in Japan and the United States, has such meaning.

Cherry trees then why did it get into the United States? The story, in 1912, the Japanese government gave some 3,000 seedlings of cherry trees as a sign of friendship between the two countries. By the U.S. government, tree seedlings were planted on the land in Sakura Park in the middle of town and on the edge of the flow Tidal Basin, Washington DC.

This is a very impressive selection of exotic as well as many surrounding historic buildings for the people of the United States. The buildings include Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and the White House. Not only in these places, then the seeds are planted cherry trees in several other districts such as Los Angeles, Philladelphia, New Jersey, Georgia, and Washington, Seattle.

Not only plant, to enliven the flowering of plants was also celebrated. Once a year, each beginning or mid-April, organized the National Cherry Blossom Festival at Sakura Park area is. The goal is clear, except as a reminder of the friendship the two countries, the celebration was also to welcome the arrival of Spring, one of which is marked by the flowering of cherry blossoms. The festival is fully supported by the Japan-America Society of Washington DC this year held a “49th Annual Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival”. Its location on Pennsylvania Avenue, only about a couple blocks from the Sakura Park.

That day, March 28, 2009, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, begins. Unfortunately, when the sun shines brightly, less friendly and the wind blowing hard. But that did not discourage the residents who live in around Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia to come in droves to see the beauty of Sakura while watching the parade and enjoy the culture and foods of the country of origin of flowers.

Festival which lasts for 16 days was so festive. How was hilarious, just imagine, every year the celebration event can net 600 thousand people who came there. Not only during the festival period, they are also still coming to pass as efflorescence Sakura Spring departure.

Paradenya own place starting at 10:00 and just circling around Pennsylvania Avenue. Participants so diverse. In addition to the line of participants representing various countries were invited, the parade onstage in a Cherry Blossom Queen, marching band students of high school, Miss America 2009 Pageant Katie Stam, until Kimberly Locke, American Idol 2. Not only Kimberly, a series of other local artists did not want to miss the annual festival go to enliven it. The main stage is located on the front page of the Lincoln Memorial which is a strategic location for landscape in historical buildings and backgrounds of the Washington Monument towering.

Harajuku Moving Places

In addition to the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which is not less splendor is Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street. This is a typical street festival in Japan the largest in the United States. Berlansgsung show from 11:00 until 18:00 o’clock. This year, there are 30 booths are involved in various bids. There are booth craft items unique to Japan, kimono, Japanese-style game vehicle, until the food-beverage Western and Japanese style. For the latter, visitors stay choosing from 20 booths of food and beverages available.

The festival was only lasted for one day only. Even so, no less-less attractions displayed on the stage entertainment. Not only adults, one child liked it because there are some special booth for them. Call it origami booth. Stan is like a noisy playground filled with children who are busy folding paper to form the seagulls or other forms. Not only Japanese children who are origami spirit, but also children with blue eyes come try it. This booth was one of the busiest booths at the festival this time. The stalls are popular kids are Childrenís Corner because they can meet a magician and storyteller’s story Japanese children.

Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street began to be held in the year 1961 throughout Japan before spreading to other countries, including the United States, particularly in the Washington DC. At the show, Japanese culture proverbial tumplek-tin at a distance from their home territory. Yes, we can see ways of life, food, traditional celebrations, to religious people. AZ Japanese. Anyway we can not know in a colorful festival, complete with beautiful flowers their sakura. At that time, the so-so forget for a moment that it was not in the United States.

Even more exciting, in the event we can meet and take pictures together with Avatar characters and the Samurai. One more, for those who’ve been to Harajuku or at least never seen or heard the story of a gathering place for young Japanese, it can feel like moving to Pennsylvania Avenue. Japanese teenagers strolling with colorful and unique makeup while chattering happily with their mother tongue.

Uniquely, many adolescent “albino” is also looking Harajuku style. Red hair color, makeup gothic, with tight leggings and a thermal shirt stacked lines lace mini skirt. Coincidence because the seasons are also supporting their clothes piled up while protecting from exposure to strong winds and the air is still cold in early spring. No visible difference between gangs and gang northern Japan. Ah yes, that distinguishes, Harajuku “Caucasians” were chattering in English.

In addition to traffic in the area of the festival, they also gathered a lot of presenting in booth attractions such as martial arts and stage J-Pop music. Regale J-Pop music is increasingly creating excitement around the festival stage. Some Japanese Pop Band directly trafficked from the country of origin. Unmitigated, one of the famous singer from Japan, Ai Kawasima, also appeared hitsnya sang, “My Love”. Complete. Music, dancing, Japanese-style food presented in a place in the United States. Moreover, Harajuku style as being the move.