Tom: In posters and the like, sakura is written in hiragana, katakana, or kanji script. Isn’t there any kind of standard rule for this? Miho: No. Writers can write it as they please. Tom: Really? I can sing the sakura song. Sakura, sakura, yayoi no sora ha… What does “yayoi” mean? Miho: It means March. A long time ago, instead of January and February, we used names for the months that were related to the seasons and our way of life. Tom: Is that so. But sakura is generally associated in the public imagination with April. Miho: March meant April in the old Japanese calendar, which was one month behind. Tom: I see. But because of global warming cherry blossoms are in full bloom in many places in March, yayoi might be the perfect fit for March even so. Miho: I heard that the kanji “ya” in yayoi means “more and more,” and “yoi” means “vivid.” Tom: It stands for the season in which flowers begin to bloom, doesn’t it? Are those old names for the months used nowadays? Miho: December is also called “shiwasu,” and the kanji “shi” means master, or teacher. The kanji for “wasu” means run. So, it is a busy month in which teachers have to run. Tom: Sounds interesting. Are there any more? Miho : “Kannazuki,” means October and is expressed in kanji as “no gods month.” I’ve heard that this comes from the legend about all the gods in Japan gathering at Izumo in Shimane Prefecture.