The Philosopher’s Walk, near the art gallery where I worked, is usually quiet. When the season of spring cherry blossom comes, there will be filled with tourists. Driving toward the mountain, I was stuck before arriving to the bridge of the Philosopher’s Walk. Later I could slowly move forward after the tourists who were taking photos, realised that the cars were waiting in line. Although too many tourists make the shop owners exhausted, they are still happy for it because the income increased. 

Sometimes, I thought that it is pretty strange. It seems that no other kind of flower is like cherry blossom, attracting most of people to appreciate. And this delicate and fleeting flower is also the inspiration of Japan cultural and creative industry. 

Ten years ago, I began to be the buyer for a selected shop in Hong Kong. Being young and inexperienced, I was unacquainted with many things. The goods in stock were sold differently. But there was a good which got my confidence back. That’s the Sakurasaku glass produced by a Japanese brand “100 percent”. Sakurasaku is the pronunciation of Japanese, which means cherry blossom. Sakurasaku glass is designed by Hironao Tsuboi. The bottom of the glass is made in the shape of cherry blossom. If the glass is filled with cold drink, the air on this cold glass will become drops, flowing along the glass toward the table. In most of people’s eyes, this is a trouble. However, the watermarks from the Sakurasaku glass form the shape of cherry blossom, one after another. The trouble turns into elegant and romantic thing immediately. Therefore, the watermarks are not hurry to be wiped away. Let the cherry blossom flourish on the table. 

The glass is the most impressive one among the products of 100 percent, which is also the bestseller for sure. Hironao Tsuboi later added new member for them. The original version was transparent. Then, he introduced the pink version like cherry blossom, and other versions made in frosted glass as well as tin, etc. 

Cherry blossom is fragile. The glory only exists in a moment. A bit not careful, it will be withered but it doesn’t let people down. Because after the flowers fell down, the withered branches still exists and the bud will grow afterwards, which means the new life appears. Thus, even though blossom falls, the mind will become open. Maybe due to this reason, all the products inspired by cherry blossom seem to induce people’s romantic and positive emotions. The cherry blossom watermarks of Sakurasaku glass turn people’s annoying emotion into surprise. On the other hand, the “Sakura soap”, designed by a product R&D company named GEL Design in Hokkaido, makes people feel the beautiful but short life of cherry blossom. 

When opening the product, a box of pink cherry blossom petals will jump into eyes. As thin as paper, the petals are made by natural soaps. If you put five to ten pieces on hand with water to wash hands or face, the soap will be dissolved immediately, just like cherry blossom, elegant but impermanent. This product later won the Best Award in the category of “Japan New Souvenir” at the 2008 Tokyo Midtown Award. 

Since 2002, every spring, Starbucks launched the “Sakura promoting scheme”. A series of pink drinks and various products in cherry blossom theme including vacuum cups were launched. In the spring of 2018, two themes “Looking Back” and “Looking forward” were put on the market. The former one was nostalgic and the latter was more contemporary. It produces 34 types of products with these two themes in total. The vacuum cups of Starbucks in Japan are regarded as trendy products. You can imagine how much revenue cherry blossom brings in every spring. 

I didn’t go into details. But are there any countries like Japan, which turns a flower into the symbol of its own country? With years of cultivating, the cherry blossom has intentionally or unintentionally helped to promote the tourism industry. Besides, the investors and residents made good use of it, making lots of products that can move consumers. 

I remember being in Hong Kong when I was in childhood, rows of blooming kapoks were alongside the road in the cold winter. The trunk was straight and firm and the flower was solid red. During the days when I was reluctant to go outside because of the cold weather, these kapoks gave me a lot driving forces. Flame trees were also beautiful. In every May and June, the flowers on it blossom like red flames. Compared to the delicate cherry blossom, they were powerful beauties. Trees not only could beautify the environments, make fresh air and keep us away from sunlight and rain, but also could give us good creative inspirations. If we cultivate them in a proper way, who will know if they are just like the cherry blossom, giving us strong powers to promote cultural and creative industry.