What do you mean it's tricky for foreigners [to understand]? Here in Washington DC, there are tons of cherry trees. They take up most of the tidal basin and people come to see them. Hell, I just went to see them yesterday....in 40 degree weather....in the rain.
What do you mean it's tricky for foreigners [to understand]? Here in Washington DC, there are tons of cherry trees. They take up most of the tidal basin and people come to see them. Hell, I just went to see them yesterday....in 40 degree weather....in the rain.
There's being able to see the cherry trees blossom...and then there's Flower Viewing. Even in DC, it's not quite the cause for overt celebration the way it would be in Japan.
It's not even just doing hanami, that's only a part of it; part of the national psyche is based on the Japanese cherry blossom, and how it blooms for only a short time - the whole 'ephemeral, transient beauty' is certainly something that is admired.
The 'hard to understand' is what Musashi and Nachi are talking about, not just 'Let's go have a party under the pretty trees'.
It's not even just doing hanami, that's only a part of it; part of the national psyche is based on the Japanese cherry blossom, and how it blooms for only a short time - the whole 'ephemeral, transient beauty' is certainly something that is admired.
The 'hard to understand' is what Musashi and Nachi are talking about, not just 'Let's go have a party under the pretty trees'.
So is flower viewing ‘hard to understand’ in the same way that things like the Big Sandy or Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoots* are ‘hard to understand’?
*they’re called “Machine Gun Shoots”, but if you can get on the list to be on the line feel free to bring your Anti-Material Rifles, Autocannons, Anti-Tank guns, tanks, or howitzers.
So is flower viewing ‘hard to understand’ in the same way that things like the Big Sandy or Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoots* are ‘hard to understand’?
*they’re called “Machine Gun Shoots”, but if you can get on the list to be on the line feel free to bring your Anti-Material Rifles, Autocannons, Anti-Tank guns, tanks, or howitzers.
I... wouldn't say so. It's not something so deeply rooted in all of the population of a single nation while having effects on a large number of foreigners like sakura in Japan.
And really though, if you probe into why Japaneses generally admire sakura, it might reach places not even related to the flower or the tree at all. For example, just the fact that the trees don't bloom until a certain time in the year is already something can be taken philosophically.
I would say it's on par with the idea of "love" by this point. But well, what do I know? What is love?
Let's go flower viewing!Morning, Nelson!Flower viewing!Now's the time to break out the fancy rum!S-Sure...Japanese people adore these 'sakura' far too much, no!?I don't get this at all!It is a little tricky for foreigners, yes...Cherry blossom sweets...Cherry...Flower viewing weather...Flower viewing spots...Cherry blossom blooming forecast...Cherry blossom blooming announcement...It's in the Japanese soul, you see...The current state of the cherry blossom line...
As in where in the country is blooming currentlyIt's chicness and elegance - things like that.