Apr

6

Mother Nature Gives and Takes in Japan

Posted by Darya Mead

Tonight, my seven-year-old made origami cranes for the children of Japan. Tomorrow, at school is a bagel breakfast to raise money for those in need, following the triple disaster of earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis.

It is also cherry blossom season, here in San Francisco, in our nation’s capital and of course in Japan, a rite of spring and a life-affirming, annual natural event. As I wheeze through the days full of blooms and pollen I stop to think about the brutality and generosity of what we call Mother Nature.

Traditional custom this time of year in Japan is to picnic under the cherry blossoms with friends and family. Sake, poetry and karaoke often accompany a spread of bountiful treats. This year though, as the country mourns, many are avoiding conspicuous consumption and opting to forgo the annual ritual, or to tone it down considerably. The elderly mayor of Tokyo has erected signs to ask residents to avoid the spring fun as a show of solidarity for those suffering in the northeast of the country. Mother Nature, or the force in nature, whatever you want to call it, can be so cruel and so glorious. The cherry blossoms are beautiful, fleeting, and fragile…like life itself. There is poignancy this year, but certainly the pink blossoms offer a small glimmer of hope, that life goes on.

Filed Under Asia, Culture, Festivals, Japan, Urban Parks


Comments

2 Responses to “Mother Nature Gives and Takes in Japan”

  1. Darya Mead on April 7th, 2011 4:37 pm

    if interested here is the link for the cranes for kids project sponsored by Osh Kosh for each crane, the company will send an article of clothing to a child in Japan

    http://www.carters.com/Cranes-For-Kids/cranes-for-kids,default,pg.html?id=oshkosh&cm_mc_uid=50742669340613022083932&cm_mc_sid_90301777=1302208393

  2. Darya Mead on June 1st, 2011 4:30 pm

    Here’s an update on the cranes for kids project..2 million cranes were created!
    http://www.oshkoshbgosh.com/Cranes-For-Kids/cranes-for-kids,default,pg.html?id=oshkosh

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