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Seeking Sakura and Samurai in Tohoku: Past and Present Glories of Kakunodate and Hirosaki By Vicki L Beyer Photo: Vicki L Beyer Today | 09:05 am JST TOKYO
We all know samurai, those armor-clad sword-wielding warriors of pre-modern Japan. It is a romantic image. Equally romantic is the image of the delicate, pink sakura blossoms that make their appearance only briefly in the spring. Sakura is often regarded as symbolic of the fleeting nature of life itself, a notion that particularly appealed to the samurai spirit. Indeed, it was during the Pax Japonica of Japan’s Edo Period (1603-1867) that sakura rose to popularity, supplanting the late winter-blooming plum as the excuse for blossom viewing parties.
TsukuBlog | FROG CHORUS Is Nature`s Richest Orchestral Show- Take Some Time to Give It a Serious Listen
alientimes.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from alientimes.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
TsukuBlog | FROG CHORUS Is Nature`s Richest Orchestral Show- Take Some Time to Give It a Serious Listen
alientimes.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from alientimes.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
May 8, 2021
Asparagus was first introduced to Japan during the Edo Period (1603-1868) by the Dutch, but as with most exotic plants it was initially grown as an ornamental rather than for eating. In the early 20th century, white asparagus, which is grown by blanching preventing the emerging spears from being exposed to light was cultivated in Hokkaido, mainly for export to the European market, although it was served by a few domestic high-end French restaurants.
The vegetable did not become widely cultivated for domestic consumption until the early 1970s. But instead of white asparagus, the green type predominated, as is still the case today. These days, white asparagus is usually only available in canned or bottled form, but green asparagus is a familiar sight in supermarkets, especially around this time of year.