Cherry blossoms are regarded as one of the flowers that most typically represent Japan. In fact, the Japanese word for “flower” used to suggest “cherry blossoms．” Every year, the“cherry blossom front” begins in the southernmost Okinawa islands，then moves through the country in a northerly direction．In Kyoto and Tokyo，the blossoms are in fu11 bloom from late March through April，and on the northernmost island of Hokkaido between late April to early May．With spring in fu1l swing，people typically wine and dine under the blossoming cherry trees．