April Kanzashi Feature

This section is a part of kanzashi feature, providing a more in detail look at the symbolism, style, colorings, and design of the kanzashi that are traditionally worn during that month - in this case, April. The month of April is when Spring begins to truly bloom and greenery once again returns. Lots of life, pleasant weather, and new beginnings are found everywhere in many facets of everyday life.



Cherry Blossom (sakura)

As Spring gets into it's full glory in April, you'll find many budding flowers beginning to make their debut, but the most appreciated flower during this time would be the long loved cherry blossom, known as sakura, appearing all throughout Japan at this time. The cherry blossom is known for it's fleeting beauty and a sign of new beginnings throughout Japan. As such, many events and schedules begin in the month of April, such as the academic school year, new jobs, and of course festivals. 

The sakura is loved so much, that there are actually weather reports and detailed watching of when the sakura are in bloom on the news to watch the sakura zensen (cherry-blossom front), so that people can take part in the long standing traditional event of cherry blossom viewing which dates back many centuries in Japan.  Japanese people will come out in vast numbers to participate in hanami, which is celebrating how beautiful sakura are through holding flower viewing parties and picnics with family and friends at parks, shrines, and temples.

The scene of sakura lined against a street or on a mountainside with their petals gently falling is a common theme throughout Japan. The petals themselves come in many shades, but are most commonly seen to be in shades of pink to white, or a combination of the two depending on the species. The amount of time the flowers stay on the cherry trees themselves vary with the species as well, as some stay this way for a few weeks while others will completely lose all petals in merely one. Most of the cherry trees for this type of flower are ornamental and do not actually produce cherries. As such, they remain a thing of pure beauty and refinement rather than common use, making them a thing to be enjoyed for the limited time they are present.

The sakura kanzashi itself is designed to imitate the five petal look of it's live inspiration, featuring rounded petals with a v-shaped dent near the top circling around a center of stamens.. The most commonly used color for this kanzashi is of a pink shade, but you will also see a white variation and even a mixing of both the pink and white. The kanzashi design itself can be found in many ways such as a large single flower, small groupings in a circle pattern, and a bridged designed with many flowers.

Another interesting aspect you may find on the sakura kanzashi are the many accessories you may see accompanied with the little flowers. You'll commonly see the presence of little butterflies seemingly fluttering about the blossoms. Much as the buds are opening to reveal flowers, so are the caterpillars emerging to become butterflies. The accompaniment of butterflies to these blossoms makes sense, because they too are symbols of new beginnings. Other additions that may be found on sakura kanzashi are bonbori lanterns, silver & gold mizuhiki cord, and the presence of dangling trailing petals or bira bira dangles.

Butterflies (cho cho)

Just as flowers are now opening to reveal their gorgeousness, so are butterflies and other insects beginning to come out in Spring. A commonly appreciated bug during the Spring season is the butterfly as it is a symbol of joy, happiness, and new beginnings. Known as cho cho in Japan, butterflies have many myths in Japan associated to them concerning the aspects of life, souls, and reincarnation. As such the many species, colors, sizes, and beauty found in butterflies is greatly appreciated as the many different paths that life can take.

Butterfly kanzashi come in many varieties, just as their living counterparts do. They can be made of many materials with the most often found being silk folded tsumami style, mizuhiki cords in gold or silver, and completely metal styles usually in silver colorings. The colorings of the kanzashi cho cho vary greatly, but will commonly be made to match the kanzashi floral being worn either by style or by species in the area attracted to that type of flower. The center part representing the body is commonly made of metals or mizuhiki cords, but sometimes you may see a design done entirely in tsumami technique.

Other designs take a more stylistic approach and will employ bright colors and unusual characteristics to make a more modern fashion statement. You will most commonly see butterfly kanzashi as a large single butterfly design or as small cho cho kanzashi accompanying or a part of another kanzashi. The large single cho cho design may also have bira bira dangles underneath to enhance the fluttering feeling.



As you can see, all of the kanzashi found in the month of April are quite beautiful and represent the feelings natural aspects of the month with grace, much as their natural counterparts do. Every month holds a uniqueness about it that is better captured in the art of kanzashi than is usually noticed in today's fast paced world. I hope you have enjoyed reading about April's traditional seasonal kanzashi. Expect more articles to be added for each month in the future!

Author: Skye Altamirano
Date: April 2008
Contact: tantaga [at] tantaga.com

Kanzashi Artist/Photographer: Songbird  (Sakura), Amaebi79 (Cho Cho)

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