Toho Studio’s Cherry Blossoms

Above, amongst the sound stages of Toho Studios are many cherry trees.

Toho Studio’s Cherry Blossoms

Text by Armand Vaquer

Photos by Sonoe Nakajima

We're now officially in Autumn, but it is worth a look back at last Spring when Japan's cherry blossoms were in full bloom at Toho Studios in Tokyo.

Above, a drainage canal that skirts alongside Toho Studios is dressed up by the blossoms. Richard Pusateri and I crossed this canal in November 2001.

One of the main attractions of Japan is their cherry blossom (or hanami) season where the country is bathed in pink colors. The cherry trees, or sakura, herald the arrival of Spring in Japan.

Above, new buildings on the Toho lot are dressed up in sakura.

Hanami season is generally in March and April. According to Japan Traveler, hanami season is “for many Japanese, the best time of year. This is when the cherry blossom trees all over Japan come in to bloom for between seven and 10 days and people hold outdoor parties to view them. The name says it all - hana means “flower” and mi is “to look”.”

Above, one of the approaches to Toho Studios is lined with cherry trees.

Last April, Sonoe Nakajima, the daughter of the original Godzilla suit-actor Haruo Nakajima, paid a visit to Toho Studios in the Setagaya ward of Tokyo where she took several photos of the sakura trees in bloom and was kind enough to share them with us. Domo arigato gozaimasu!

Above, the "Seven Samurai" mural and the Godzilla statue are dwarfed by the sakura blossoming trees.

Above, Toho Studios is a definitely a pleasant place to work for sakura fans.