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| Cherry trees are found in virtually
every town in Japan, and because their blossoms fall in just two weeks, they
are regarded as the ultimate symbol of spring. In Japan, the school year and
the fiscal years of companies traditionally end in March and begin in April,
so people’s memories of graduations and new jobs are often intertwined
with visions of cherry blossoms. When cherry trees bloom in the spring, people
across Japan come together with friends and family to admire the fleeting beauty
of the blossoms at gatherings known as hanami (literally “flower viewing”).
Students and workers also gather for hanami as a fun way to |
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| build close relations. Indeed, there may be no better way to celebrate the arrival of spring than
sitting beneath cherry trees in full bloom and enjoying the company of one’s
friends and family. |
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