the ascent...

Mankai-ya!

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April 16th 2008
Late March to early April in Japan is cherry blossom season, symbolic of the brevity but intense beauty of life. The fragile blossoms only last about a week or two long before falling. Japanese Vocab mankai: full bloom sakura: cherry blossoms, symbol of springtime in Japan saku/saiteru: to bloom/are in bloom ~jo: added to the end of a name, meaning ... read more

Asia » Japan » Wakayama

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In 1603, a Tokugawa shogunate (military dictatorship) ushered in a long period of isolation from foreign influence in order to secure its power. For 250 years this policy enabled Japan to enjoy stability and a flowering of its indigenous culture. Fol... ... read more