Hanami Pink

Written for: BFR Magazine Issue 26, The Colour Issue, Spring 2019

The mass bloom of the vibrant pink colour of cherry blossom in April signifies the start of the year in Japan. With ties to Buddhist views on mortality and human existence, the delicate floral awakening communicates a time of renewal and optimism.

Equally, the short-lived bloom also represents the fleeting nature of life and for this reason, when the national flower is in bloom, families and friends across the country gather in large groups for the centuries-old tradition of “Hanami” - cherry blossom viewing. This ritual beneath the beautiful branches is a celebration of life, sharing bento boxes of food, sake and sweet mochi whilst dancing to music. Hanami is considered to have been established as a ritual as early as 710, a time when cherry blossoms were believed to represent the mountain deities of Japanese folk religions, who encouraged agricultural reproduction. And so, every spring, the inhabitants would travel to the mountains to worship the trees. The flower has since also become a cultural icon, with visitors from abroad planning their trips around the blooming schedule to catch a glimpse of the vivid pink landscape. When visiting Japan last spring, my first sight of Sakura was at Yoyogi park in Tokyo - it was overwhelming. One tree on its own was beautiful, but to see pink across a whole terrain was so incredible that it was almost alien. We were reminded by a park attendant that because the Sakura is so transient, the ritual of Hanami reminds us to pay attention to the small moments around us. So, as we travelled through the country, I decided to pay more attention to, and document, how colour affected my experience.