Sakura Cherry Blossom

Behind the music:

“Sakura Sakura” is a traditional Japanese melody dating back to the Edo period, originally used to teach the koto. The song reflects the cultural importance of cherry blossoms as a symbol of seasonal change and impermanence. Rudolf Dittrich later arranged the melody for Western instruments, adapting its pentatonic scale to European harmonic language. His version helped introduce Japanese traditional music to Western concert audiences in the late 19th and early 20th century.