A beloved local cherry tree

Japan’s cherry trees have profuse blooms in spring, sure. They’re showy and a lovely way to welcome the season. But a cherry tree is not just a cherry tree. They come in myriad varieties laden with symbolism.

Up the road from my house in a suburban Chiba Prefecture, Noda City, is a mixed agricultural and light industry area. At the edge of one farm field is a cherry tree that produces gorgeous blooms each year. I’m a plum blossom fan, but this one cherry tree captivates me every year and I must have a look when I get a chance on fair weather days. In the Kanto region, we’ve had inclement weather, rainy and cold for the last few days, but today, I had a chance to see this beauty.

Japan has a bewildering variety of cherry specimens, with single, double, and weeping varieties. My neighbourhood cherry tree, at the edge of a farm field, is exemplary. It’s 紅白 kouhaku, both light and dark, and has blooms that droop on long branches. The blooms are single and double, and contrast with the dark branches.

Do you have a beloved cherry tree near you? What makes it exceptional?