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Monday, April 11, 2016

Sakura and its message from Nara Park

Early-blooming Higan-sakura (彼岸桜)prior to the Sakura season

In Japan, Sakura, or cherry blossom, is more than just a beautiful tree blossom. 
It is the epitome of transient beauty in this world. 
Though Sakura season lasts about two weeks, each blossom blooms less than a week.  
As we know, nothing in this world remains forever in the same way. 
So, let’s enjoy the beauty while it lasts, any moment of NOW.


- Early stage of Sakura -
Along the Ara-ike Pond

The former museum of special products of Nara, 旧奈良物産陳列所(1902)

The Sansha-ike Pond in the Kasugano Park











- Sakura in full bloom -
The roof of the Todai-ji Buddha Hall, the world's largest wooden structure


Kasugano Park




Near the Mt. Wakakusa

Weeping Sakura tree near the Nigatsu-do Hall



The path down to the Sagi-ike Pond from Marumado



Somei-yoshino, (染井吉野) the most widely planted and cultivated flowering cherry in Japan

Multiple-petaled weeping Sakura, Beni-yutaka (紅豊)

Personally I prefer Sakura's final stage for the "Sakura fubuki" (cherry blossoms blizzard),
numerous dancing and drifting Sakura petals in the breeze,
and sakura-colored carpet on the ground.

- Final stage of Sakura -






Across the spring sky, on the ground or pond, or in the fields, there is the hazy shades of pink, 
as far as you can see. 




As I walk through, Sakura blossoms conjured up various memories associated with them 
including my father, who passed away on the 9th of April long years ago.




In the Sakura blizzard, I hear Sakura whishpering;
“Live your life graceful to the fullest, treasure any moment of your life to the very end.
When you live according to the will of Nature, everything will be all right."




Only this photo is from Umami Hills Park

My second granddaughter Y arrived this world escorted by the Sakura spirit on the first of April.
Today I accompanied Y to the entrance ceremony of the kindergarten ten days later her 3rd birthday. 
She is in the Dandelion class (three-year-old class) as the youngest of her classmates. 
Individual difference is so large at this stage of growth, but I think she'll be just all right being as she is.


As long as possible, I’ll watch over her grow and develop her personality
 in each stage of her bloom.




The Sakura Front is going north.
My part of the world is entering The Season of "新緑 Shinryoku".


Linked to Through My Lens
and
Our World Tuesday

34 comments:

  1. こんばんわ!
    舞い散るサクラの花びらに吸い込まれそうです。ホントきれい。改めて奈良公園って素晴らしいのだって思います。
    京都ほど知名度が無いのは残念ですが、今更ながら奈良の魅力の奥深さに私も少しづつ気がついてきたなあと思うこの頃ごろです。先日のポストではWordのアドバイス有難うございました。言ってもらって嬉しかったです。新しい言葉を使うのは勇気がいったので、せめて滝桜になおそうと思いました。ありがとう!

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  2. Dear Yoko, your photos, like the cherry blossoms, are a fresh breath of spring. They lift my spirit and fill my heart with joy. And all those tame deer...so delightful! Living in the NOW is so important and sometimes hard to do. Have you read the book, "The Power of Now." I need to read portions of it over and over to remind myself that the past does not exist and need no longer have any hold over me. The future also does not exist and may never occur. All we ever have is the present moment. And now, it is a moment to breath in the joyous scents of cherry blossoms!

    As you know, I'm posting occasionally on L & L Photography (http://www.landlfotos.com/blog)

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  3. Amazing photos! They remind me that sometime we might experience Spring here someday soon. The Azaleas are beginning to bloom...a little late. It's raining today perhaps it will warm up tomorrow! Have a grand day!

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  4. Your wonderful shots speak of a fairy tale world of beauty!

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  5. Så underbara bilder från din fina park. Jag stornjuter av dom.
    Såg idag från bussen att våra träd börjar få ett rosa skimmer också men inte alls så mycket som hos dig.
    Ha en fin och solig tid
    Kram Meta

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  6. Very beautiful. Your sakuru posts are always my favourite ;-)

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  7. It is important to embrace natures beauty in the way you have done in this post Yoko showing the fleeting Sakura blossom, and enjoy it to the full during its short life.
    I hope your sweet little granddaughter is happy in the Dandelion class and that she makes lots of good friends.

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  8. I love how the stages of children blooming is after flowers. I did not know that. She is so lovely. Congratulations on your second grand baby. I wish your family endless joy with your new family member.

    your photos are so lovely
    thank you ~

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  9. Dear Yoko,
    You gasp at how beautiful it is, it just takes your breath away! The two of us made this tour together with you again, domo arigato! Somehow I do not remember that path down to the Sagi-ike Pond. We haven’t walked there, have we?
    I would like to be those lucky deer stepping silently on fallen blossoms. Special thanks for the names, I do love the way the sound! Sakura fubuki is delightful.
    Living in accordance with Nature is the truest thing. Sometimes in daily routine, when you are overloaded with work it seems difficult. Yet, even a short walk on a starry night or newly-born moon like now, revives your feelings.
    I wish that little cute fleur of yours bloom happily, she is blessed to have loving parents and Grandma.
    Take care always, Yoko.
    With warmest feelings,
    Irina
    Dr. B sends you his greetings.

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    1. Hi, Irina! We stopped by Sagi-ike Pond but we didn’t walk that path (connecting Marumado and Sagi-ike Pond) as we headed for the opposite direction, though I don’t know if you strolled on your own the previous day. It’s so special to see the bare tree suddenly burst out in full bloom and come back to life all over Japan. How about returning in spring after your retirement?

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  10. Your photos just left me speachless.... it's such a stunning view. I wish one day I would be able to visit your beautiful contry at this time of year!
    Love to your sweet little girls:)

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  11. Thank you for this beautiful post Yoko - marvelous and special in words and pictures... :-)

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  12. Gorgeous! Every picture here takes my breath away. The season of Sakura is beautiful not only for its visible beauty but also in the message of transience that it gifts us all with. To hear it all in your lucid expression is always such a wonderful blessing, dear Yoko. I carry the whispers of Sakura in my heart.

    So adorable, Y, such a joy to see her radiating in her pure innocence and smiles. Much love to her.

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  13. Paradise on earth.......
    And a lovely little girl !!!
    Thanks for sharing what you see in your beautiful Nara !
    Have a nice day !
    Anna

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  14. Gorgeous! Like in a fairy-tale!

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  15. I gravitate to umbrellas so the white one beneath the blossoms caught my eye. The falling petals remind me of wedding confetti and the circle of life. Your grandchildren are like fresh buds blooming. :)

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  16. Thank you Yoko for this incredibly beautiful post.....each image is more lovely than the next.
    Fascinating video,especially the part when petals float on water - pure enchantment!
    Y is indeed a bright spark with a playful sense of humour perhaps?
    You are so right,we must treasure each precious moment.

    Enjoy your day,
    Ruby

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  17. Wonderful nature which is renewed every year Yoko. Great photos !!
    Very cute your granddaughter ♥, she will also grow, seeing as they grow cherry :))
    Besos.

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  18. I can only imagine how beautiful it must be to walk there in person. Your photos are so lovely. I had trouble reading the text over the dark background.

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  19. Beautiful images, the blossom is so pretty

    mollyxxx

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  20. Beautiful post, so lovely pictures like fairytales illustrations! Greetings in April!

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  21. she is so cute. born into a magical world.

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  22. Preciosas fotos, me encantan. Te sigo desde ahora !!
    Besetes.

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  23. Dear Yoko, Your words and photos uplift my spirits as they bring smiles and tears.The transience of the blossoms helps us appreciate the fleeting nature of life. The reflection photo of the little boy and the deer is quite wonderful. It looks as though they are gazing at each other in communion. It is snowing here in Breckenridge, and I'm pretending that the flakes are Sakura blossoms I see floating to the earth. Your little Y is now as old as Sam. Three is a wonderful age of discovery with many new skills learned each day. We are lucky to witness their blooming!

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  24. Hi again stardust, I hope this finds you well. I have been hearing about the earthquake in Japan and although it was likely not in your area, you came to my mind. These horrific events make me wonder if this is the start of something greater for all the “ring of fire” regions, including my location in coastal BC. I am curious if anyone in your world talks about North Korea bomb testing possibly triggering earthquakes in sensitive areas not only in China and South Korea but also in Japan.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for your concern. I wrote to you privately with my new address. Hope it didn’t go into junk automatically.

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  25. おはようございます。桜の写真、素敵ですね。花筏になって最後まで楽しませて呉れるのはこの花だけですね。

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  26. Your little granddaughter Y is so sweet. We are so lucky to be grandparents. I feel sad for my mother and father who only knew my older son for a few years, and never knew my Younger son. The sakura is so beautiful. No blossoms here yet, too cold, but we have a sunny day today April 16.
    I hope you are safe, I have seen the destruction caused by the recent earthquakes.

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  27. Hi, Yoko! Is everything all right in your region? The news of the recent earthquakes is really alarming. I do hope, you are safe and sound. Wish you a quiet and peaceful night,
    Irina

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for your concern. Though Nara is not affected by that earthquake, I’m in a sombre mood to think of those who lost their lives or those who have spent sleepless night in fear of many strong aftershocks.

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  28. Muito lindas as imagens;
    Prazer em conhecer o blog.
    janicce.

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  29. I stopped by again to enjoy your lovely flowers. We don't have many flowering trees yet, soon though. I might have to take a drive in a month to visit the cherry blossoms. Ours are on private lands, not a lovely park like yours. Lovely week to you.

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  30. What a surprise, Yoko! I am charmed with drawing and painting. I look for materials for it in my free time and I like the Japanese felt-tip pens Sakura. Now I know the meaning of this word and, every time I take one of these felt-tip pens, I´ll remember this marvel that here you show us. These photographies and the video of the flowers of the cherry-tree are a pure delight. As the tuning in between human beings and deer that it appreciates in your images.

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