THE JAPAN CULTURAL TRADITION HANAMI

This paper is written to fulfil the self study assignment on Cross Cultural Understanding
subject which is led by Latifah Dwi Aryani., S.S., and M.Hum.

By:

Yoga Ayudha Aqidho

2017120038

LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE FACULTY

QUR’ANIC SCIENCE UNIVERSITY CENTRAL JAVA IN
WONOSOBO
2021
 PREFACE

Praise be to God Almighty for the blessing of His Grace, and to us were given an
opportunity to be able to finish working paper entitled “the Japan cultural tradition
hanami” is on time

This paper is made to the reader can have a knowledge about the Japan cultural
tradition hanami. This paper made with help from several people and because help
of God Almighty, there papers can be finished in the end.

The cultural tradition hanami is all about the paper discuss and it is chosen because
the Japan culture already spread out all over Indonesia in smart way.

Hopefully the paper can give an insight to the reader. Although this paper has
advantages and disadvantages. Several suggestion are welcome to make this paper
more actual and complete.

i
 TABLE OF CONTENT

PREFACE ....................................................................................................... i

CONTENT ..................................................................................................... ii

CHAPTER I ................................................................................................... 1

INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................... 1

1.1 Background of Paper ............................................................................... 1

1.2 Purpose of Paper ..................................................................................... 1
1.3 Problem Formulation .............................................................................. 1

CHAPTER II .................................................................................................. 2

DISCUSION .................................................................................................. 2

1.1 What is Hanami ....................................................................................... 2

1.2 The History of Hanami............................................................................ 2
1.3 The Meaning of Hanami ......................................................................... 3

CHAPTER III................................................................................................. 5

CONCLUSION .............................................................................................. 5

BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................................................................... 6

ii
 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of Paper

Culture is the way people recognize the nationality of the nation and it be
the characteristic of the nation. Through the culture there are some rule and
other that make the nation to have a characteristic and it make different between
one and another nation in the world.
The current condition beside Korea culture that is trending in Indonesia
there are a Japan culture which trend among Indonesian people. Through their
animation that produce, they try to promote the Japan culture and introduce
Japan to people out there. It bring several advantage for several sector start
from tourism place, their food, cultural research and the others.
One of many popular culture that spread round the world is hanami. The
traditional culture that still exist in the modern era and get to be famous in every
where.
This paper discuss about the traditional culture of hanami, start from the
history to the meaning of hanami itself.
1.2 Purpose of Paper
1. To know what is hanami
2. To know the history of hanami the cultural tradition
3. To know hanami in nowadays.
1.3 Problem Formulations
1. What is hanami?
2. How is the history of hanami the cultural tradition?
3. How is hanami nowadays?

1
 CHAPTER II
DISCUSION

1.1 What is Hanami

Hanami (花見) literally means "flower viewing", however, it
commonly refers only to cherry blossom viewing. It is one of the traditional
Japanese traditions that is popular both in Japan and in the world. The main
activity in this tradition is enjoying the beauty of the flowers in bloom, and
in general the flowers in question are cherry blossoms or plum blossoms
(Ume). Cherry blossoms bloom all over Japan from late March to early
May and around February for Okinawa Island. Usually the cherry blossom
bloom schedule is always announced by the weather agency in Japan every
year. The blooming of cherry blossoms is always supervised by the people
who grow this flower, because the time for cherry blossoms to bloom is
only 1 or 2 weeks.
In today's modern world, Hanami can also mean having a party
under a tree during the day or at night. Hanami can also mean walks under
the trees. Hanami held at night are also called yozakura (夜 桜) or night
sakura.
An ancient form of Hanami also still exists in Japan, namely
Umemi. Umemi is similar to Hanami, except that what you enjoy here is
plum or Ume flowers. Umemi is usually attended by older people, because
Umemi is not as busy as Hanami which is attended by many young people
and is more festive.
1.2 The History of Hanami
Hanami has been in Japan for centuries. This tradition dates back to
the Nara period (710-794), and when it was plum or Ume flowers that were
enjoyed. During the Heian period (794-1185), cherry blossoms became
more attractive to enjoy and since then Hanami has become synonymous
with cherry blossoms.

2
 The cherry blossoms were originally used to signify the annual
harvest day and signify the growing season for rice. Japanese people at that
time believed in holy spirits inside the cherry tree and made offerings. Then
the Japanese will drink sake to celebrate. Saga Kingdom in the Heian
period, adopted this ancient belief, so they held Hanami while drinking sake
and held parties under the cherry blossom trees. Then a poem will be
written to describe the beauty of the cherry blossoms. The cycle of cherry
blossoms is considered a reflection of human life, where it is seen as
beautiful and radiant but only briefly.
Hanami was initially limited to the royal elite but later spread to the
samurai circles. During the Edo period, ordinary Japanese were able to
follow Hanami. Tokugawa Yoshimune then planted many cherry trees to
support this Hanami custom.
There is a saying that "cakes are more attractive than flowers" (花
よ り 団 子 Hana Yori Dango). This proverb illustrates that Japanese
people focus more on the food and parties that are held than on enjoying
the flowers themselves.
"Under the cherry tree" is a famous story composed by Motojiro
Kajii. This story says that there was a corpse under the cherry blossom tree.

"The corpse is buried under the cherry blossom tree. You have to
believe this! Otherwise, you cannot explain the beauty of the cherry
blossoms. Recently I have been restless, because I cannot believe in this
beauty. But now I understand: corpses are buried under trees. Cherries! You
have to believe - Motojiro Kajii"
1.3 Hanami in Nowadays
The Japanese continue to hold the Hanami tradition to this day.
Many people gather in gardens wherever cherry trees can be found. They
had a great party under the tree. Even this party can go on into the evening.
For more than half of Japan, the cherry blossoms come right when school

3
starts and starts work after the holiday season. So that Hanami is used as a
party to welcome the new day.
In Hanami, the Japanese celebrate by eating and drinking, listening
to songs, and also playing. Special foods are also provided for this Hanami
celebration such as dango, bento, and sake.
Japanese people usually put blue mats under the Sakura tree to
reserve a place for them so they don't fight with other residents. Usually
they arrive 12 hours before the event starts. Sometimes new employees in
a company are assigned tasks by their superiors for this important mission.
Japanese citizens take off their footwear before stepping on this blue mat.
When Hanami took place, it was not unusual to find many food
festivals held on the side of the city roads. You can find many types of
traditional Japanese food / snacks here.

4
 CHAPTER III
CONCLUSION

Hanami is one of the traditional Japanese traditions that is popular both in

Japan and in the world. Hanami held at night are also called yozakura or night
sakura. An ancient form of Hanami also still exists in Japan, namely
Umemi. Umemi is similar to Hanami, except that what you enjoy here is plum or
Ume flowers. Umemi is usually attended by older people, because Umemi is not
as busy as Hanami which is attended by many young people and is more festive.

During the Heian period, cherry blossoms became more attractive to enjoy
and since then Hanami has become synonymous with cherry blossoms. The cherry
blossoms were originally used to signify the annual harvest day and signify the
growing season for rice. Japanese people at that time believed in holy spirits inside
the cherry tree and made offerings. Saga Kingdom in the Heian period, adopted this
ancient belief, so they held Hanami while drinking sake and held parties under the
cherry blossom trees. Then a poem will be written to describe the beauty of the
cherry blossoms. The cycle of cherry blossoms is considered a reflection of human
life, where it is seen as beautiful and radiant but only briefly. “Under the cherry
tree” is a famous story composed by Motojiro Kajii. This story says that there was
a corpse under the cherry blossom tree. “The corpse is buried under the cherry
blossom tree. Otherwise, you cannot explain the beauty of the cherry blossoms.”

The Japanese continue to hold the Hanami tradition to this day. So that
Hanami is used as a party to welcome the new day. In Hanami, the Japanese
celebrate by eating and drinking, listening to songs, and also playing. Special foods
are also provided for this Hanami celebration such as dango, bento, and sake. When
Hanami took place, it was not unusual to find many food festivals held on the side
of the city roads.

5
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hanami. (2013, April 13). Retrieved March 11, 2021, from

http://halojepang.blogspot.com/2013/04/hanami.html

How to do hanami?. Retrieved March 11, 2021, from https://www.japan-

guide.com/e/e2011_how.html