First sign of spring…

One of my favorite parts about the arrival of spring in Japan is the appearance of the beautiful, fragile cherry blossoms; here in Kanagawa, we have an early-blooming varietal, Kawazuzakura, that blooms in February (versus late March for Yoshino and other varieties). I was surprised to see the first cherry blossoms were open the last week of January; as was the case last year, the weather is unseasonably warm here.

One of the most beautiful aspects of living in Japan is the fleeting beauty of the sakura season. Delicate blossoms are susceptible to wind and rain and fall quickly after blooming, reminder of the fragility of life.