The sakura (桜) or cherry blossoms in Japan are in full bloom. I guess you can say that cherry blossoms are one of the iconic symbols that people associate with Japan and Japanese culture. There’s also a Japanese folk song about the sakura. You might have heard of it before because it’s often chosen as one of the songs that represent Japan in countries other than Japan.

桜桜 (sakura sakura)

cherry blossom, cherry blossom

野山も里も (noyamamo satomo)

on hill fields and mountains

見渡す限り (miwatasu kagiri)

as far as can be seen

霞か雲か (kasumika kumoka)

is it the mist, the clouds?

朝日に匂う (asahini niou)

fragrant in the morning sun

桜桜 (sakura sakura)

cherry blossom, cherry blossom

花ざかり (hanazakari)

full-bloomed flowers

桜桜 (sakura sakura)

cherry blossom, cherry blossom

弥生の空は (yayoino sorawa)

across the spring sky

見渡す限り (miwatasu kagiri)

as far as can be seen

霞か雲か (kasumika kumoka)

is it the mist, the clouds?

匂いぞ出づる (nioizo izuru)

fragrance in the air

いざやいざや (izaya izaya)

come on, come

見に行かん (mini yukan)

Look! Finally!