The Cherry Blossom (Sakura) - The Rite of Spring and how it inspired me to pick a logo

Posted on January 16 2015

It took me awhile to find the perfect logo for my company until I finally settled on the elements, colours and finally the design that I felt I had the strongest creative affinity with.

Indeed, as the cherry blossoms are pretty, the kanji character (the japanese character) 'sakura' is an image of a woman wearing a hair ornament. Certainly, a woman wearing a hair ornament is definitely a pretty sight.

Kanji as a rule does not express sounds, they express meaning. The cherry blossom signifies that spring is arriving, and in Japan marks the beginning of the fiscal year for businesses. As well, the delicate pale coloured blossoms have also become a symbol of a bright future. To me that's should be the optimistic outlook I should have when I'm exploring new materials or just to breakthrough new design ideas.

With the cherry blossoms' short-lived beauty however, poets historically have given them a darker meaning that eventually suited militaristic causes.

Particularly, in ancient Japan during the age of the samurai and in World War II, when using images of the sakura or invoking reference to the symbology of the blossom was used to inspire soldiers before battlefield exploits. To be so inspired to such extremes by such a delicate beauty.

One needs to experience the ephemeral touch of the cherry blossoms and nothing does it better than spending some time underneath the branches of a blossoming tree.

Although 'hanami' or picnicking under the flowering tree first started during the Nara Period (710–794)_ in Japan, it was during the Heian period (794–1185)_, that it was first limited to the aristocratic and the Imperial elite.

Soon, 'hanami' became the byword for sakura and vice-versa. Eventually, the popularity of enjoying by viewing and picnicking under the cherry blossoms became popular with the general public as well.

Particularly, when the 8th shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate Tokugawa Yoshimune (November 27, 1684 – July 12, 1751) planted several areas of the sakura to encourage the public to appreciate the blossoming trees.

 

My favorite cherry blossoms are also in it's edible form and it's called by it's namesake, the Sakura-mochi. It really is a delicious dessert treat and a sweet snack that's absolutely heavenly just like the delicate blossom.

In early Spring every year in High Park, Toronto, my most awaited event is the "Sakura Hanami". It's when clouds of pink seem to descend on the park and it's countless visitors.

The sakura touches the artist's soul and inspires the creative spirit in everyone, painters, photographers, poets, just to name a few.

Unfortunately, because of the 2014 Ice Storm there was only a briefest blossoming of the cherry blossoms. Hopefully this year, we'll have a longer Sakura Hanami at the park.

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