The sense of appreciating nature is closely connected with the perishing of the moment and decay. Apr 01, 2021 · 11:30 pm The current pervasive image of the landscape of Japanese cherry blossom is in a way constructed and has changed through history and culture. | Behrouz Mehri / AFP As a lecturer in Japanese studies, the first questions I ask my students is: “What sort of images come to mind when you think of Japan?” The answers usually include advanced technologies, red shrine gates, anime and great food – such as sushi, ramen and so on. They also often say a landscape awash in a gentle pink with sakura cherry blossom.