Cherry Blossom – The Spirit of the SamuraiHeres a program from our archives.Ambience: Shakuhachi Flute This season, cherry blossoms are blooming in Japan and elsewhere around the world. In Japanese culture, cherry blossoms, or sakura, have served as a reminder that life is brief, and beauty fleeting. I’m Jim Metzner, and this is the Pulse of the Planet.Kazua Kodama is Counselor for Public Affairs at the Japanese Embassy in Washington DC. Kodama: I think in Japan we very much cherish a deep sense of melancholy in the presence of the ephemeral, the sense of uncertainty or transitoriness which is represented by the sakura flowers at the height of its beauty for a very short period of time. No sooner does the sakura reach full bloom then it begins to shed its blossoms.”When I look at the flowering cherry blossoms, I always feel a sheer beauty of the flower itself. And at the same time, inherently, I feel this will not last long, and this is a fact of life. And especially in the olden Japan– at the time of wars and the battles among the clans, fighting each other– Samurai warrior, when they look at the flower, they may think, ‘tomorrow I will not be able to enjoy it.’ So this sort of melancholiness and also joy of looking at the full bloom flowers I think, do coexist.This archival program is part of our thirtieth anniversary celebration. If you want hear more, check out our podcast. Im Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet.
Cherry Blossom - Spirit of the Samurai
In Japanese culture, the blossoming of the Cherry Tree represents an ancient code of honor.
Air Date:04/01/2021
Scientist:
Transcript:
Cherry Blossom - The Spirit of the SamuraiHeres a program from our archives.Ambience: Shakuhachi Flute This season, cherry blossoms are blooming in Japan and elsewhere around the world. In Japanese culture, cherry blossoms, or sakura, have served as a reminder that life is brief, and beauty fleeting. I'm Jim Metzner, and this is the Pulse of the Planet.Kazua Kodama is Counselor for Public Affairs at the Japanese Embassy in Washington DC. Kodama: I think in Japan we very much cherish a deep sense of melancholy in the presence of the ephemeral, the sense of uncertainty or transitoriness which is represented by the sakura flowers at the height of its beauty for a very short period of time. No sooner does the sakura reach full bloom then it begins to shed its blossoms."When I look at the flowering cherry blossoms, I always feel a sheer beauty of the flower itself. And at the same time, inherently, I feel this will not last long, and this is a fact of life. And especially in the olden Japan-- at the time of wars and the battles among the clans, fighting each other-- Samurai warrior, when they look at the flower, they may think, 'tomorrow I will not be able to enjoy it.' So this sort of melancholiness and also joy of looking at the full bloom flowers I think, do coexist.This archival program is part of our thirtieth anniversary celebration. If you want hear more, check out our podcast. Im Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet.