A hint of spring – Tsubomi –
February is usually the coldest month of the year in Japan. Island of Japan is located in the subtropical zone but it snows quite a lot. Although I was born and grew up in Tokyo, I started learning skiing at age 6. Of course we have to go up north to ski but even in Tokyo we can get a metre of snow every winter. We hosted the winter Olympic Games in Nagano in 1998 if you remember.
In this middle of winter, we can already see a hit of spring on the street. Ume (plum trees) are having blossoms. Some are already flowered.
Sakura (桜/ cherry blossoms) are something special for Japanese people and they can be quite crazy about it during the season. But some how I always prefer Ume. While sakura is a bit of drama queen and showing off, ume is shy and humble. I even like smell of ume better than sakura. Yes, I like sakura but I like ume even better.
Here in Tokyo, tsubomi (蕾/shoots) of ume are waiting for a pinch of warm air. They flower before sakura, quietly they let us know the arrival of spring. Remembering the scent of ume, I wrote the character of 蕾 (tsubomi). I too wait for the spring.
7 replies on “A hint of spring – Tsubomi –”
Valerie I. VanOrden
I too, wait for hints of spring. Right now we have had 80 inches of snow and are getting 7 more this weekend, wet sleety stuff. I’m so tired of being cooped up, it’s dangerous driving. I listen for the birds. Already I’ve heard some new ones. The song sparrows come up when it’s spring.
Juju Kurihara
Hi, Valerie, Last week and this week we had a bomb of cold. The street was frozen and it snowed. I stopped cycling because I was scared. But comparing to where you are, it´s nothing. The spring may seem to be away but when we listen carefully, there are many signs of spring around us. Sparrows looking quite good.
Karen
When I first moved to Kumamoto, of course I waited for the spring to come and my first view of sakura. When I saw the ume blossom, I asked, “Is that sakura?” Later, when I saw sakura, I thought to myself that the ume was prettier. I love the look of the little flower against the rough bark. Have always preferred it.
Juju Kurihara
Sakura is good too but I like the humbleness of ume. And as you say the contrast of the small pretty shoots and the rough bark makes the tree some how special. It´s like people who have had a difficult and hard life can be the most sympathised people. Ume and an uguisu bird were often became a motif for Haiku.
Segers Steven
Thank you for reminding me of this wonderful time.
In 2011, it was snowing in Shibuya & the people got a bit crazy.
As a Belgian I was astonished of the inexplicable beauty of the Sakurabon in 2006.
I visited my friends in the mountains of Matsumoto. We celebrated all night & the next morning all blossoms in Japan opened. So, I was obliged to stay & continue to party with my Japanese friends. I shall keep this experience in my heart.
Steven aka Ipiki Ookami since 1999
Juju Kurihara
Thank you for sharing your beautiful memory with us, Steven san. Partying under sakura trees is something I miss in spring. I´ve been the places where sakura trees are in Europe but either they are so young or not enough trees to make me feel spring.
Hope you can go back there for another party one day.
Steven Segers
Hai, so desu né!
It’s unforgettable. I have never seen so much blossoms in one view as in the mountains on Matsumoto. The whole valley, as far as the eye can reach.
Here in Belgium, we don’t seem to have a real winter this year. My lavender-plants in the garden are still flowering, it’s kind of funny.
Your work is very inventive & beautiful as interesting.
I’m intrigued by Japanese calligraphy, but bad timing & a dynamic environment for such a study was not on my path yet. I like the work of Aida Mitsuo.
In Japan (1999,2006 & 2011) I had a taste of many traditional & contemporary arts, but couldn’t stay long enough to initiate myself.
My main goal was to continue my study of aikibudo & enjoy the country I have been researching for years with all my senses.
Music & movement is what my life is all about, so in Japan I was hungry for input & took full advantage.
But…my experiences in Tsumagoi, Obuse,Kamikoochi,Hotaka,Matsumoto,Seki,Himeji, Tottori…were exotic & mystic with a timeless environment of fauna & flora & nothing but warm encounters with people.
I’m grateful for this.
Steven