Warning: This may be a trigger!
The cherry blossom is not only a pretty flower but it is also a symbolic flower within Japanese history. For those who aren't aware, cherry blossom trees only flower for a short period of time each year. But, when they do blossom the look is awesomely beautiful. The cherry blossom trees tend to blossom at once and are covered in cherry blossoms like a stick covered in fairy floss (candy cane). The cherry blossoms then fall to the ground with gusts of wind...like samurais.
Why are they like samurais?
●The Samurai lifespan also didn't tend to be very long. Many died in battle or committed suicide if they lost the battle (harakiri/seppaku). There were mass numbers of samurais dying just as mass numbers of cherry blossoms fall after they bloom.
●When the Samurais committed Harakiri they would slit open their bellies, exposing the contents inside. It was partly a way of showing, hey look, I'm a human being ~ on the inside I'm the same.
*That was a very vague description and thus could be misleading. There could be a lot more discussion about this topic.*
Not cherry blossoms but similar looking.
But, what I learnt from Japanese history is that within Samurai history, suicide was not stigmatized as much as within UK Christian history. In fact, suicide may instead be seen as a kind of remorse, honour or redemption by some in Japan. But, within UK history, suicide was often seen as a form of murder by a number of Christian followers. Having been influenced by Christian morals, I find it challenging to accept suicide as a positive thing.
I don't think that within modern Japan, suicide is seen as such a positive thing. But, I think that little aspects of history have some influence till this day. Two or three times my train was late in Japan because someone had committed suicide on the tracks and they needed to be cleaned off. I was told that the train stations charge the family with the clean up job in order to try and deter Salary men from jumping.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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