Blogs

Living in Kyushu, I feel fortunate to experience the stunning cherry blossom season, typically from late March to early April every year. As the cherry trees burst into bloom, the landscape transfo … read more

There is so much written about the beauty and profoundness of cherry blossoms. And yet, my childhood memories of them are quite simple.I grew up in Mimasaka, a small town in Okayama prefecture. There, … read more

under cherry blossoms’ shade even those whom we don’t know are not strangers (Issa Kobayashi, 1819) When we can share feelings with others, they are no longer strangers. If we have em … read more

In Japan, passion for cherry blossoms run deeps and anticipating their arrival every spring borders on a national obsession.Pictures above are from nightly news national TV broadcasts in early March. … read more

It is still cold, and Spring seems a way off. However, days are starting to get longer noticeably, and unmistakable signs of change are in the air. The plum trees in my backyard have hundreds of pr … read more