CHERRY BLOSSOMS FESTIVAL

Cherry Blossom is the national flower of Japan.

Cherry blossoms within a field of Phlox subulata at Yachounomori Garden in Tatebayashi, Gunma

"
Japan's national government has never formally named a "national flower", as with other symbols such as the green pheasant, which was named as national bird (by a non-government body) in 1947, but it wasn't until 1999 that the national flag and national anthem were officially passed into law.
A de facto national flower for Japan for many is the sakura (Cherry blossom), while a stylized picture of a chrysanthemum is used as the official seal of the Japanese Imperial Family."

At Himeji Castle Japan

 But I think Cherry Blossoms are loved all over the world. In fact, there are festivities called the Cherry Blossom Festivals.

Here are some links to show how these festivals are being anticipated by the global peoples and held in different parts of the world.

http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/ 

http://www.cherryblossom.com/events/

http://www.cherryblossomfestivalsocal.org/

http://www.cherryblossomfestivalsocal.org/

http://nccbf.org/

And though, Japan and Korea have been in conflict, South Korea has been observing Cherry Blossoms Festival.
http://discoveringkorea.com/2009/03/24/jinhaes-cherry-blossoms/ 

These photos were taken in Mr. Han's place in Seoul, South Korea.

It started as the FLOWER VIEWING in Japan as wikipedia.com narrates....
"

Flower viewing

Main article: Hanami

"Hanami" is the centuries-old practice of picnicking under a blooming sakura or ume tree. The custom is said to have started during the Nara Period (710–794) when it was ume blossoms that people admired in the beginning. But by the Heian Period (794–1185), cherry blossoms came to attract more attention and hanami was synonymous with sakura.^[3] From then on, in tanka and haiku, "flowers" meant "sakura." The custom was originally limited to the elite of the Imperial Court, but soon spread to samurai society and, by the Edo period, to the common people as well. Tokugawa Yoshimune planted areas of cherry blossom trees to encourage this. Under the sakura trees, people had lunch and drank sake in cheerful feasts.

Woodblock print of Mount Fuji and cherry blossom from 36 Views of Mount Fuji by Hiroshige.

Every year the Japanese Meteorological Agency and the public track the sakura zensen (cherry blossom front) as it moves northward up the archipelago with the approach of warmer weather via nightly forecasts following the weather segment of news programs. The blossoming begins in Okinawa in January and typically reaches Kyoto and Tokyo at the end of March or the beginning of April. It proceeds into areas at the higher altitudes and northward, arriving in Hokkaidō a few weeks later. Japanese pay close attention to these forecasts and turn out in large numbers at parks, shrines, and temples with family and friends to hold flower-viewing parties. Hanami festivals celebrate the beauty of the cherry blossom and for many are a chance to relax and enjoy the beautiful view. The custom of hanami dates back many centuries in Japan: the eighth-century chronicle Nihon Shoki (日本書紀) records hanami festivals being held as early as the third century CE.
Most Japanese schools and public buildings have cherry blossom trees outside of them. Since the fiscal and school year both begin in April, in many parts of Honshū, the first day of work or school coincides with the cherry blossom season.
The Japan Cherry Blossom Association developed a list of Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots^[4] with at least one location in every prefecture."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_blossom

Yesterday, April 2nd, 2012, during my class with Mr. Han, a Korean military retiree who has been trying to learn Spoken and Conversational English with me, we talked about the coming big events in Korea in April. And he mentioned the Cherry Blossom Festival as one. He said that it is being observed and celebrated in different parts of Korea on different days and dates.

He said that Seoul is going to hold the Cherry Blossoms Festival on April 10th, 2012.

 Thia photo was taken in 2011 during the Cherry Blossoms Festival in Seoul, South Korea.

I. myself, love flowers. I also experienced watching Sakura Flowers in Japan. I miss picnicking under the Cherry trees. How I wish I could watch them again with my husband someday

I also wish that the conflict of Japan and Korea be mended through picnicking and watching these flowers: SAKURA or Cherry Blossoms.

Cherry blossoms in Newark, New Jersey

Panoramic view from the Symbolic Mountain at the Japanese Gardens. The view takes in the gardens and the plains of the Cowra district across to the nearby mountains.

 Happy watching and picnicking!