[Sunday Culture] Spring Flower Viewing as Social Life... The Story of 'Ohanami'

Starting as an Event to Pray for a Bountiful Harvest
Now Established as a Must-Do Spring Event

Editor's NoteIt's a lazy Sunday for both body and mind. Our international desk reporter brings you an interesting read related to Japanese culture.

Have you been to see the flowers yet? These days, we can really feel that spring is just around the corner. When you think of 'cherry blossom viewing,' what kind of scenes come to mind? Recently, when I asked some acquaintances during an outing, some mentioned animations like "Crayon Shin-chan." Often, scenes appear where people share lunch boxes on mats spread under cherry trees, adults drink beer, and watch the cherry blossoms fluttering down gently.

This is a springtime cultural event in Japan called 'Ohanami' (お花見). There is a special reason why flower viewing is called a 'culture' in Japan. It is one of the must-attend events for new employees at companies in spring. This shows that the significance of cherry blossom viewing feels heavier in Japan than in Korea.

In Korea, many people travel to places like Yeouido Yunjungno or Jinhae in Gyeongsangnam-do to see cherry blossoms. In line with the cherry blossom season, today I would like to introduce the Japanese Ohanami culture. Please take it as a way to see how the same flower viewing can be so different.

Although Japan is famous for cherry blossoms, originally it was something only nobles enjoyed. It is said that the origin was plum blossom viewing brought from China around the 8th century during the Nara period.

The cherry trees with fluttering petals were developed through breeding during the Edo period. The varieties that became the basis for the famous Somei Yoshino cherry trees we know today appeared then. From that time, cherry trees spread throughout the country, and common people also began to enjoy flower viewing.

In particular, farmers regarded flower viewing as an event to pray for a good harvest. This was because cherry blossoms, which bloom all at once before the leaves appear in spring, were considered sacred. They believed that the god of the rice paddies descended from the mountains with the spring cherry blossoms. They predicted crop yields based on how the cherry blossoms bloomed and prepared for rice planting and sowing according to the blooming period, so cherry blossoms were very important to them.

In fact, Japan has a title called the 'Three Great Cherry Trees.' These are given to cherry trees over 1,000 years old. One is the Miharu Takizakura, a tree over 1,000 years old, whose blossoms look like a waterfall pouring down, hence also called the 'Waterfall Cherry.' This tree is located in Fukushima, which suffered damage from the nuclear power plant explosion. Another is the Yamataka Jindai Zakura in Yamanashi Prefecture, known as the 'oldest cherry blossom in the world,' estimated to be between 1,800 and 2,000 years old. The third is the Neodani Usuzumi Zakura in Gifu Prefecture, estimated to be over 1,500 years old.

The Miharu Takizakura, known as the "Waterfall Cherry Blossom." (Photo by Weathernews Japan)

There are also 'cherry blossom guardians.' These are people who care for the cherry trees, managing them so that flowers can bloom before the flowering season and protecting and nurturing them after the blossoms fall to ensure good blooming the following year. Local governments appoint guardians, and individuals who love cherry trees also take on this role personally.

Japan’s love for cherry blossoms seems extraordinary. Flower viewing has become one of the must-attend events in spring. It also plays an important role in social life. Spring company outings are held under the pretext of viewing cherry blossoms.

Companies select an 'Ohanami Kansha' (Ohanami organizer) around this time to prepare and announce the flower viewing event. Every spring, office workers agonize over organizing this outing. One organizer’s advice introduced on a website is as follows: 'The place must allow drinking alcohol and accommodate many people sitting. It is essential to conduct a prior inspection to check for restrooms, whether there is a supermarket or convenience store within walking distance, if trash can be taken back to the company, and to assess the slope of the spot where the mat will be laid.' Complicated, right? On top of this, if the cherry blossoms bloom earlier than expected and the schedule has to be moved up, or if it is delayed and the schedule postponed, it causes great confusion.

The most important thing is securing a spot. Popular places sometimes see competition where people reserve spots days in advance or even stay overnight the night before. During this season, companies that reserve spots with extra-large mats a week before the outing become a hot topic among office workers. Because of this, some parks prohibit nighttime entry or post notices saying, 'Please do not reserve spots overnight.'

Because people are so serious about flower viewing, there is even a spot reservation service. It reserves a place from 8:30 p.m. the night before until 9 a.m. the next day, a 13-hour period. The cost is about 20,000 to 40,000 Korean won per hour, with additional charges for transportation and late-night fees. This again shows how important flower viewing is in company life. Services renting out flower viewing-specific items such as floor tables, game sets, and heaters by delivery also flourish at this time.

When I asked a Japanese acquaintance, they said, "Rather than the organizer, usually the youngest member does it. They go early in the morning or even the day before to find a good spot and reserve it with a mat. I struggled to secure a spot when I was the youngest too." Social life is not easy anywhere in the world.

Getting emotionally involved with the plight of office workers made this introduction longer than intended. Since we are neighboring countries, the blooming of flowers and people’s lives may be similar, but there are also differences. Still, isn’t the charm of spring spending joyful time chatting and enjoying flowers with close people? I hope you have a happy time viewing flowers with your loved ones this weekend.