Sakura (桜 or さくら) is the Japanese word for the cherry blossom, the flower of trees in the genus Prunus subgenus Cerasus. It refers both to the ornamental cherry trees themselves and to their blossoms. Sakura is considered the national flower of Japan and is central to the cultural practice of hanami (flower viewing).
Botanical Classification
Sakura trees belong to the genus Prunus subgenus Cerasus ("true cherries"). This subgenus comprises approximately 100 species of cherry trees, not including bush cherries, bird cherries, or cherry laurels. In Japan, ornamental cherry trees are increasingly classified under the genus Cerasus following a 1992 paper by Hideaki Ohba of the University of Tokyo.
Most ornamental cherry trees planted for viewing are cultivars developed from wild species. The Prunus speciosa (Oshima cherry), endemic to Japan, has been particularly influential due to its large, fragrant flowers and tendency to produce double-flowered mutations. Since the 14th century, various cultivars known as the Cerasus Sato-zakura Group have been developed.
Distribution and Blooming Season
Wild cherry species are widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere, with particular abundance in East Asia, especially Japan. Most cherry species and cultivars bloom between March and April in the Northern Hemisphere. The blooming progresses northward along the Japanese archipelago, tracked by the sakura zensen ("cherry blossom front"), beginning in Okinawa in January and typically reaching Kyoto and Tokyo at the beginning of April.
Cultural Significance
Hanami
Hanami is the centuries-old practice of holding feasts or parties under blooming sakura trees. The custom began during the Nara period (710–794) with ume (plum) blossoms, but by the Heian period (794–1185), cherry blossoms had become the primary focus. Originally limited to the Imperial Court elite, the practice spread to samurai society and, by the Edo period, to the common people.
Symbolism
Sakura commonly symbolizes impermanence in Japanese culture, associated with the concept of mono no aware (物の哀れ) — the pathos of things. The transient beauty of the blossoms, which typically fall within a week of full bloom, has been linked to mortality and the acceptance of destiny. This symbolism was historically invoked in Japanese nationalism and militarism, particularly during World War II, where falling cherry petals came to represent the sacrifice of youth.
Artistic and Popular Uses
Cherry blossoms appear frequently in Japanese art, manga, anime, film, and music. The Japan national rugby union team is nicknamed the "Brave Blossoms" and features sakura on its uniforms. The flower is also used in irezumi (traditional Japanese tattooing) and appears on consumer goods including kimonos, stationery, and dishware.
Cultivars
Japan has over 600 cherry cultivars. The most popular is the Yoshino cherry (Prunus × yedoensis 'Somei-yoshino'), known for its nearly pure white flowers tinged with pale pink. Other notable cultivars include:
- Kawazu-zakura — a deep pink cultivar that blooms from late February to early March
- Shidare-zakura — weeping cherry trees with drooping branches
- Yae-zakura — double-flowered varieties with more than five petals
- Ukon and Gyoiko — rare cultivars with yellow and green flowers, respectively
Culinary Use
Sakura blossoms and leaves are edible and used in Japanese cuisine. The blossoms are salt-pickled (sakurazuke) and used in wagashi (traditional confectionery) or steeped in hot water to make sakurayu, a festive drink. Leaves are pickled and used for sakuramochi. Cherry leaves and blossoms contain coumarin, which is potentially hepatotoxic in high doses, but the salt-curing process reduces its concentration to acceptable levels.
Climate Change Impact
The flowering time of cherry trees has been affected by global warming and urbanization. Records of full bloom dates for Prunus jamasakura in Kyoto, spanning approximately 1,200 years, show that the average peak bloom day shifted from around April 17 in the 1850s to April 5 by the 2020s, with average temperature rising by about 3.4°C (6.1°F) during this period. The earliest full bloom date in 1,200 years was recorded in 2021.
