Artist Statement
Hand-cut in paper, The Strength in Sixty Sakura represents the strength and resilience of the Japanese Canadian community, captured in the history and programming of the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre. Commemorating it’s 60th Anniversary, 60 blossoms adorn these branches, marking each year of education, partnerships, participation and learning at the centre.
The Sakura has a long history of cultural symbolism in Japan. The country’s distinct agrarian history, and reverence for seasonal connection and nature may be a reason why this tree has become such a powerful emblem of Japan and Japanese culture.[1] In Springtime this beautiful tree relates to the Japanese tradition of ohanami – translated to ‘flower viewing’ – a cultural event that continues traditions of pilgrimage established in the early Nara period (710 – 784)[2]. This annual event coincides with the short window of blossoming flowers, where people travel from far and wide to gather and share the experience, eating food and drinking sake. The ancient roots of the ohanami custom are connected to the belief that kami (spirits) live in Sakura, which lead to communal praying with food and sake under the trees.[3]
Sakura became a symbol of peace, when on 1 April 1959, Japanese Ambassador to Canada, Toru Hagiwara, presented 2000 Japanese Somei-Yoshino Sakura trees on behalf of the citizens of Tokyo, as a gift to the citizens of Toronto for their support of Japanese-Canadian refugees after WWII. And between years 2000 and 2012, over 3000 Sakura trees were gifted to Toronto during the Ontario Sakura Project, which were planted in 60 places across the city.[4]
Sakura trees grace the gardens of the JCCC and take naming rights in the annual Sakura Gala event and Sakura Award. There is undeniable strength in the beauty, history, and cultural significance of the Sakura. Now represented in paper, I hope these delicate forms have captured the strength and resilience of the Japanese-Canadian community, and will inspire visitors to learn more about Nikkei heritage.
[1] Chiba, K. (2022). Japanese Flower Culture – An Introduction (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/10.4324/9781003248682
[2] Moriuchi, E. & Basi, M. (2019) ‘The Sustainability of Ohanami Cherry Blossom Festivals as a Cultural Icon’, Sustainability, Basel, Switzerland, vol. 11 (6), p. 1820. DOI: 10.3390/su11061820
[3] Chiba, K. (2022). Japanese Flower Culture – An Introduction (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/10.4324/9781003248682
[4] Embassy of Japan in Canada (2021) ‘Japan and Canada’s blossoming relationship: Sakura’, Published 31 May 2021 https://www.ca.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/sakura-2021.html#:~:text=The%20planting%20of%20cherry%20trees,were%20donated%20to%20the%20city. Accessed 15 March 2023
The Sakura has a long history of cultural symbolism in Japan. The country’s distinct agrarian history, and reverence for seasonal connection and nature may be a reason why this tree has become such a powerful emblem of Japan and Japanese culture.[1] In Springtime this beautiful tree relates to the Japanese tradition of ohanami – translated to ‘flower viewing’ – a cultural event that continues traditions of pilgrimage established in the early Nara period (710 – 784)[2]. This annual event coincides with the short window of blossoming flowers, where people travel from far and wide to gather and share the experience, eating food and drinking sake. The ancient roots of the ohanami custom are connected to the belief that kami (spirits) live in Sakura, which lead to communal praying with food and sake under the trees.[3]
Sakura became a symbol of peace, when on 1 April 1959, Japanese Ambassador to Canada, Toru Hagiwara, presented 2000 Japanese Somei-Yoshino Sakura trees on behalf of the citizens of Tokyo, as a gift to the citizens of Toronto for their support of Japanese-Canadian refugees after WWII. And between years 2000 and 2012, over 3000 Sakura trees were gifted to Toronto during the Ontario Sakura Project, which were planted in 60 places across the city.[4]
Sakura trees grace the gardens of the JCCC and take naming rights in the annual Sakura Gala event and Sakura Award. There is undeniable strength in the beauty, history, and cultural significance of the Sakura. Now represented in paper, I hope these delicate forms have captured the strength and resilience of the Japanese-Canadian community, and will inspire visitors to learn more about Nikkei heritage.
[1] Chiba, K. (2022). Japanese Flower Culture – An Introduction (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/10.4324/9781003248682
[2] Moriuchi, E. & Basi, M. (2019) ‘The Sustainability of Ohanami Cherry Blossom Festivals as a Cultural Icon’, Sustainability, Basel, Switzerland, vol. 11 (6), p. 1820. DOI: 10.3390/su11061820
[3] Chiba, K. (2022). Japanese Flower Culture – An Introduction (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/10.4324/9781003248682
[4] Embassy of Japan in Canada (2021) ‘Japan and Canada’s blossoming relationship: Sakura’, Published 31 May 2021 https://www.ca.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/sakura-2021.html#:~:text=The%20planting%20of%20cherry%20trees,were%20donated%20to%20the%20city. Accessed 15 March 2023