Menuki with a motif of Japanese cherry blossoms, Sakura 桜, accompanied by other spring flowers.

Menuki Omote: Length 43mm, Width 11mm, height 3mm

Menuki Ura: Length 43mm, Width 11mm, height 3mm

Sakura flowers symbolize the ephemeral side of life, and its beauty.
Blooming in March throughout Japan, it announces the arrival of spring.

The spectacular blooming of Sakura flowers is very appreciated by the Japanese and is part of this "Hanami" period, the contemplation of flowers. Their sudden flowering lasts barely two weeks, bringing a feeling of dynamism and vitality. The flight of the petals carried by the wind announces the end of this event.
With its short life span and the beauty of this phenomenon, the Sakura flower is also a parallel with the life of the samurai and bushi, refined but ephemeral, reminding us that existence is short, especially for its warriors whose life could end abruptly in combat. This image joins a very old aesthetic and spiritual concept in Japan, the 'Mono No Aware', which could be interpreted as 'Empathy towards things' or 'sensitivity to the ephemeral'.