Discover Japanese nature terms

Have you ever heard of some of the Japanese terms to describe seasonal changes or the subtle beauty of nature?

Komorebi is a beautiful Japanese term that refers to the sunlight filtering through the leaves of trees. It's often used to describe the dappled or filtered sunlight that creates patterns of light and shadow on the ground or other surfaces in forests or wooded areas.

This phenomenon is highly appreciated in Japanese culture for its serene and tranquil aesthetic, often evoking feelings of peace and harmony with nature. This can be observed when walking in nature, and observing the changes in shadows and light filtering through the trees.

Oubaitori is another wonderfully descriptive Japanese idiom. Each individual character represents a different kind of blossom: cherry, apricot, peach and plum.

While these four different blossoms look very similar at first glance, they all bloom differently and have their own distinct shapes and smells. Yet despite their differences, each and every blossom is proud and beautiful in its own way.

The concept of oubaitori takes this idea and applies it to people. Just as blossoms bloom differently, people grow and develop in different ways too. In other words, everyone is blossoming in their own way. Everyone is different, and should be proud of what makes them unique.

The meaning of oubaitori is that, instead of comparing ourselves to other people, we should be focusing on our own growth, and valuing what makes us special.