enSEMble – May 2023 Issue

Sakura Hanami | Cherry Blossom Viewing

Called sakura in Japan, cherry blossoms are cherished by many Japanese people and consider sakura as an important part of their identity and culture. As part of their long tradition of hanami (flower viewing), the entire country looks forward to the Sakura Hanami annual event.  

In Toronto, the cherry blossom trees bloom into white and pink flowers around the end of April to early May. Depending on the temperature, what normally takes several weeks, took less than a week due to the warmer weather this year. Due to the short lifespan of the blooms many wait eagerly to view the special and beautiful sight.  

How did this now Toronto iconic event start? Well, it began as an idea to establish a “Japanese garden” in a Toronto park. Japanese-Canadians and community members came up with this idea as a way to show support to the Japanese who faced discrimination post-WWII. To bring the “garden idea to life”, 2000 trees were gifted to Toronto from Tokyo in 1959. The first 100 trees were planted in High Park. As the sakura is highly regarded by the people of Japan, they were a symbolic gesture of goodwill, friendship, and gratitude for accepting displaced Japanese-Canadians after the war. 

These days there are 16 sites home to cherry blossom trees scattered across Toronto including 50 trees in front of the Humanities Wing at UTSC and 70 along the path at Robarts Library at UTSG. 

Fun Fact: Life expectancy of the Sakura is only 30 or 40 years, but by prudent pruning of dead limbs, some have been extended into their 60s.