It’s Cherry blossom season and Japan has built a culture all around it, following the trail of the blossoms across the country from south in Okinawa as early as January to north in Hokkaido in late May. The Japanese also love holding hanami viewing parties.

In South Korea, one of the biggest hits this spring is ironically an “anti-spring” song by 10cm.

Why the hell is it important to know when the flowers bloom
Why the hell you need to know when the weather gets warm

 

 

Do you love spring you so stupid
Do you find Cherry blossoms pretty you stupid
Flowers fall down at last just like you two fall apart soon
Screw all up

 

 

I love the MV with its Little Prince concept. It’s a very cynical song that’s atypical for releases in spring, which is a symbolism for rebirth after the cruel winter. Perhaps that’s the reason why the song is so famous even among Korean celebrities, because it goes against the archetypal of how romantic this season is supposed to be.

Speaking of Cherry blossoms, there are many varieties out there, which Japan Prime Minister Abe highlighted when he hosted a hanami party over the weekend.

“I will do my best, with a toughness like that of the Someiyoshino, which are clinging to the last 10 per cent of their blossoms, and the mind of the Yaezakura double-blossom trees, which are only at about 60 percent of full bloom.”

Someiyoshino (Yoshino cherry) is pale pink that blooms early April; it is one of the most popular cherry trees in Japan. Yaezakura has layers of petals and blooms from mid-to-late April.

More varieties here.

Last month, ahead of the Sakura season, Music Station did a ranking on songs Japanese love to listen to during hanami parties.

Arashi’s Sakura Sake ranked No. 11. It’s one of my favorite PVs too.

Watch the PV here.

My favorite lines from the song:

振り向くな　後ろには明日はないから 前へ 前へ
Don’t turn around because there’s no tomorrow behind you
Go forward

Sakura reaches full bloom in just two weeks and afterwards fall from the trees that’s why it matters to know when they will bloom. (There are even apps for Sakura trails in Japan.)

I was in Japan last year for work but of course, by the time I was in Tokyo, most of the Sakura have all gone although we managed to find remnants at the Tokyo Skytree area.

Sakura…so fleeting. If you blink, they’ve fallen.

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