Sakura Matsuri!

In Japanese sakura means "cherry blossom" and matsuri means "festival." The cherry blossom is Japan’s national flower and the Japanese are very fond of the Cherry Blossom. Many poems have been written about the cherry blossom in all languages and here is a poem written by Saigyou (1118～1190):

Ne-ga-wa-ku wa              (I would die in the spring,)
ha-na no shi-ta ni te       (under the blossoms,)
ha-ru shi-na-mu              (in the second month)
so-no ki-sa-ra-gi no        (at the time of)
mo-chi-zu-ki no ko-ro    (the full moon)

Figure 1 — Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington D.C. 

Check out the annual Sakura Matsuri - Japanese Street Festival in Washington D.C. http://sakuramatsuri.org/