One of the most beautiful legends of Japanese folklore is linked to the cherry blossom, a fairy tale that tells the essence of true and unconditional love.

In a pristine forest, far from civilization, there lived a cherry tree that was unable to bloom. His negative and sad aura prevented grass from growing and animals from approaching.

A Kami, a forest deity, was moved by seeing so much solitude, approached him and offered him an opportunity: a spell that would last 20 years. During these years, the tree would have had the opportunity to experience the emotions of a human heart by transforming, at will, into a man and then back into a plant, but if at the end of 20 years it had not managed to become vital and flourish, it would have dead forever.

The cherry tree accepted; he wandered the world in search of something that could make him happy but unfortunately humanity continued to disappoint him: it was too lost in its own selfishness and in a constant struggle between wars of power, death and violence. Each time, sad and alone, he decided to return to his vegetal form.

One day, however, while walking on the bank of a river, he saw a beautiful girl. She was Sakura (whose name means cherry blossom) and she surprised him because she was kind; they spoke for a long time sharing dreams and hopes.

When Sakura asked him what his name was, the tree came up with only one word: “Yohiro,” which means hope. A deep friendship was born between the two and in a short time love blossomed.

The years passed inexorably and the deadline announced by the Goddess was now approaching. Yohiro had to find the courage to confess his true nature to his beloved.

This revelation deeply disturbed Sakura and convinced Yohiro, increasingly sad, to move away, returning to take on the appearance of a tree. Sakura tried to forget him but she felt alone and incomplete and, in the end, she understood that she couldn't live without Yohiro; she went to the tree and confessed all his love to him.

It was then that the Goddess appeared again and asked Sakura to choose: remain human, and lose Yohiro, or merge with him in the form of a tree.

The girl decided to renounce her human nature and asked the divinity to be able to join her beloved and thus remain with him forever.

And the magic happened: the two lovers embraced, becoming one and the tree blossomed, filling with hundreds of pink flowers, symbol of eternal love.