Bite of the cherry
SPRINGWATCH IN JAPAN: CHERRY BLOSSOM TIME BBC Two, Friday, 8.30pm
THE sakura (cherry blossom) spring is one of the world’s most stunning natural wonders, as blankets of pale pink flowers transform Japan’s towns, cities and countryside. This Easter, presenters Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and James Wong join hundreds of thousands of travellers visiting Japan to indulge in hanami – the national tradition of flower watching.
As each follows their own sakura stories, the trio learn that the arrival of the blossom is not just a spectacle of nature – it has become one of Japan’s most important cultural moments, influencing the economy, tourism and family tradition. The presenters look back to the sakura’s ancient origins and how the arrival of the blossom represented the fleeting beauty of nature and human life.
For Chris, the sakura is a chance to explore the wildlife that lives in harmony with the blossom. The Japanese white-eye has been perfectly designed to enjoy the cherry blossom, and can be seen everywhere at this time of year. Chris goes in search of this tiny bird to explain just why it can live in such harmony with the sakura. And, with hanami parties in full swing, he’ll encounter the elusive nocturnal raccoon dogs, or tanuki, living in the city suburbs, which come out to feed on party scraps.
For ethnobotanist James, the trip is a chance to look at the amazing phenomenon of the trees themselves. Here, he learns that the most popular sakura is unable to fertilise future generations of trees – so all the blossom orchards are man-made. Travelling to Mount Yoshino, where 30,000 trees delight the annual visitors, James joins the group of dedicated gardeners who ensure the survival of the spectacle by planting new trees every year. And in Kyoto he meets one of the revered “sakura doctors” who dedicate their lives to keeping the trees healthy.
Michaela’s journey starts in Tokyo, where she meets the blossom bees. Pesticides are banned in the city, so the bees have access to clean nectar sources – particularly the sakura. Michaela and Chris join revelers in one of Kyoto’s large parks to discover how different generations mark the sakura, including students celebrating the season in their own way.