sakura

cherry tree

Sakura represent the short-lived beauty of life. Sakura are often depicted in Japanese art and poetry.

And while the tree is found throughout Asia, its associations with Japan are so strong that in Korea many sakura were removed after the colonial period as an unwanted reminder of the Japanese presence.

cherry blossom (blossom of the Japanese cherry tree)

In his hand, he holds a sakura. He plans to give it to his daughter, marking a milestone in her life and protection for the future.

a card game from Hawaii played with Japanese hanafuda playing cards

In Hawaii there are a number of popular gambling games which have not invaded the mainland, except possibly in Oriental colonies. The basic game among the large Japanese population is sakura, which is played with a deck of forty-eight tiny one-by-two-inch Japanese cards.

Any beachboy was hailed as the day's hero who could scrape together enough money to buy a fresh box of sakura cards, and through the long hot days the gang would sit beneath coconut umbrellas, playing the silly game. No other was allowed, and if a man couldn't play sakura, he couldn't be a beachboy.

A female given name from Japanese.