Japanese people gather to see cherry blossoms in the Japanese
capital Tokyo during the plant's blossoming season in this undated
photo.
The cherry blossom, called "sakura" in Japanese, is a well-known
and ubiquitous symbol of Japan. More than 305 species of cherry
blossoms can be seen in the nation, many of which were artificially
hybridized or grafted by Japanese many centuries ago.
The appearance of the plant's fragile blossom each spring
strikes a resonant chord in all Japanese. The blossoming typically
reaches Tokyo and Kyoto at the end of March or beginning of
April.
(CRI April 10, 2007)
