Sakura is the Japanese word for Cherry Blossoms.

The vase depicts a breeze blowing cherry petals off blossoms in the fall.

Japanese turn out in large numbers at Hanami festivals to celebrate the beauty of Sakura at parks, shrines and temple flower-viewing parties.

The custom of Hanami dates back centuries with festivals held as early as the third century CE.

In 1912 to celebrate Japan’s growing friendship with the United States a gift of 3,020 cherry blossom trees were planted in Sakura Park, Manhattan.

The gift was renewed with another 3,800 trees in 1965.

There are now collections around the country of flowering Japanese cherry trees in the tens of thousands.

The International Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon, Georgia, features the largest with over 300,000 cherry trees.