We’re on Cherry Blossom Watch everyone!

What is that? Well, that’s when the City of Toronto and its surrounding areas wait with anticipation for the cherry blossom trees in High Park and elsewhere around the city to bloom.

Cherry blossoms (桜 Sakura in Japanese, 벚꽃 Beotkkok in Korean, 櫻花 Yīng Huā in Chinese, etc.) are small five-petal flowers that are often associated with the color pink, but they come in other colors as well, like white. They’re native to areas in east Asia but they’ve been planted all over the world. They’re the national flower of Japan and they bloom for a short period each spring. In our neck of the woods that usually means late April early May, depending on the weather. They can be seen most famously in High Park, but they can also be found in other places around the city, like Toronto Island and Exhibition Place.

These small but mighty flowers hold a lot of symbolism, such as the idea of transience. The blossoms are only at peak bloom for a very short time each year, usually about a week or two. They are beautiful but fleeting, not meant to last forever. In that sense they represent renewal but also mortality, and a reminder to appreciate beauty while we have it.

But one aspect I want to focus on today is that the trees we enjoy in the GTA are symbolic of our friendship with the nation of Japan and its people. According to the City of Toronto’s page, 2000 Sakura trees were gifted to the city back in 1959 by the then Japanese Ambassador to Canada, Toru-Hagiwara, as a gift from the people of Tokyo. They were given to thank Toronto for taking in relocated Japanese Canadian citizens during World War II. The High Park Nature Centre’s site goes into a little more detail. Though relations between Canada and Japan had been damaged by war, racist attitudes and discriminating laws against Japanese Canadian citizens and by internment camps, this was seen as a new symbol of friendship and helped set the tone for years to come.

Toronto is not the only place in Canada where I’ve seen the connection we have with Japan in person. A couple of years ago and friend of mine and I were out East for a wedding, and since we had some time, we made the trip to Green Gables Heritage Place (I’m a Canadian Youth Services Librarian, I pretty much had to go ;).

In the welcome center you’ll find signs and resources in English, French and Mi’kmaw. There’s a walking trail (called the Haunted Wood Trail, so of course I was going to take a look) that takes you over to Montgomery Park where there’s a beautiful statue of Lucy Maud Montgomery and a few cat statues (I jumped at one thinking it was real). Cavendish Cemetary, where she’s buried, is just across the street from the park.

Looking at the plaques and signs around the park I realized something. They were also written in three languages. English, French… and Japanese. Now, I had known that Anne is popular in Japan, and I’ve linked to the story of why there and here, which is a really interesting read. Montgomery’s books have been translated into Japanese and been adapted in both manga and anime. Our favorite redhead definitely has a fan base over in Japan, and in 2019, when Montgomery Park first opened in PEI, Princess Takamodo visited to celebrate the opening and unveil the statue.

All of this got me thinking. Right now, just south of us, the actions of one of Canada’s oldest and closest allies on the international stage is causing most of us up here to go ‘elbows up’. Cherry Blossoms in the GTA are a great reminder that we have friends in the world. We shared with them a beloved story, they shared beautiful trees with us, and those are only two examples of how much has passed between Canada and Japan. Relationships and histories between countries and people can always be complicated and even problematic, but the genuine love we feel for the stories we share and the beautiful things we see can deepen bonds across oceans and time. It’s an amazing thing.

Some things to check out for Cherry Blossom Season in the GTA.

Manga Classics: Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

Whether you’re new to Anne’s story or want to revisit Green Gables this is a new way to experience Anne and her adventures. This title is part of the Manga Classics series, which adapts several classic literature titles, from Jane Austen to Shakespeare and beyond, into manga volumes with full artwork. Manga Classics: Anne of Green Gables is the only authorized manga adaptation of Lucy Maude Montgomery’s story. With gorgeous artwork and dialogue lifted directly from the original work this is a faithful retelling that combines two cultures into one of our most enduring stories.

Pure Invention: How Japan’s Pop Culture Conquered the World by Matt Alt

This nonfiction entry is one I’ve read and can very highly and personally recommend. I’m a pop culture fanatic, always have been, and whether you’re interested specifically in Japanese pop culture or just the topic in general you will find this book interesting. Beginning at the end of WWII, Alt takes the reader through the history of products and inventions that have pulled Japan out of their post-war rebuilding, through recessions and other cultural upheavals, and gradually reached and changed the entire world. Walkmans? Karaoke? Hello Kitty? Pokemon? It’s all in here and more, in detail. You’ll learn a lot and see some of your favorite things in a whole new light.

Obasan by Joy Kogawa

This award-winning novel was one of the first to really show readers the struggles of Japanese-Canadian citizens during the second world war. The story centers around Naomi Nakane, a teacher in Alberta in the 1970s. After she learns of her uncle’s death, Naomi, along with her aunt (the term for aunt in Japanese is obasan) begin to go through the memories of Naomi’s childhood in the 1940s and 1950s. From being uprooted from their home in Vancouver to the internment camps to the racist slurs and the struggles during and after the war, Naomi relives it all for the readers and for herself. Joy Kogawa holds nothing back, drawing on her own experiences to bring this terrible period of history to light. As hard as it is, it’s always important to remember the past so we don’t repeat it in the present and future.

Return to Cherry Blossom Way by Jeannie Chin

This second chance romance is part of a series called Blue Cedar Falls and follows the three Wu sisters. This volume focuses on May Wu, who’s just returned home after leaving years ago due to bullying. She’s been working as a travel writer ever since, but her latest assignment has her going back to where it all began. And of course, the first person she runs into when she gets back is her ex. Han Leung is running his family’s restaurant and has always put his own wants last. Can May and Han find a second chance at love????

If you’re going to take a look at the Cherry Blossoms this year, a gentle reminder to not touch the blossoms or climb the trees. We want to make sure the trees and their blossoms are around for a long time for everyone to enjoy.

Think Pink!