Sakura: A Musical Celebration of the Cherry Blossoms

The harmony between humanity and nature constitutes an ideal state in Japanese music. In spring, the beautiful but short-lived sakura (flowering cherry tree)—Japan's most celebrated plant whose blossom is the national flower—powerfully symbolizes the transient splendor of human life. Each year, in Washington, D.C., thousands of visitors savor the beauty of the cherry blossoms which have come to represent the friendship between the people of the United States and Japan. Featuring traditional Japanese folk songs, classical instrumentals, and live ensemble performances, this recording honors the musical gifts that were brought to the United States from Japan.

RELATED LESSON PLAN
"Sakura Sakura and the Kumoijoshi Scale of Japan"
"An Introduction to Japanese Music: “Sakura, Sakura”"
"SORAN BUSHI: Exploring Japanese Work Song(Hokkaido & Kitaki, Japan)"

Track Listing

101	Sakura	Kyoko Okamoto	03:11
102	Yasugi Bushi (Song of Yasugi)	Group from Izumo	05:03
103	Asadoya Yunta of Okinawa	Group from Okinawa	02:00
104	Hachigaeshi (Returning the Bowl)	Riley Kelly Lee	05:46
105	Akita Nitaka Bushi	Sanae Yabumuki, Umewaka Asano	04:59
106	The Song of Rice-Husking	Group of women from Yamagata	03:56
107	Song of the Stonemason	Kitaki Island man	02:49
108	Soran Bushi (Soran Song)	Group of Japanese men and women	02:48
109	Rokudan No Shirabe (Music of Six Steps)	Shinichi Yuize	05:39
110	Yuudachi (Evening Rainstorm)	Soh Daiko	11:12