No Smoking

Sakura

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April 10th 2009
In the fall I put up a post about the momiji, japanese maples, changing colors and what a big deal it is. The spring equivalent are sakura trees, cherry blossoms. Around the first week of april all the trees in Tokyo pop at the same time and the Hanami (flower seeing) begins. I'm pretty sure its the drastic changes in these two trees that coordinate with the seasons that explains why Japanese p ... read more

Asia » Japan » Tokyo

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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