April 5 is Seimei Day, the day of nature’s renewal and clear skies. It’s a period that characterizes the Japanese calendar as the micro-season of purity and clarity. It is a
pleasant season due to southeast wind that brings freshness and Cherry trees, sakura, are beginning to bloom and animals are coming out of hibernation. So you can discover some beautiful landscapes across the country. In the west, wisteria are beginning to bloom. In the east, the first white butterflies make their appearance, and the swallows (or tsubame) are back. To the north, on the island of Hokkaido in particular, the accumulated snow is beginning to disappear. These are magnificent landscapes, which I’m happy to share with you for your viewing pleasure.