It is late March, and the crowds are about to descend in droves on the parks and gardens for hanami, or cherry-blossom viewing.
Sakura (cherry blossom) is also all over the air waves. Tune in, for example, to the music channels MTV Japan or Space Shower TV and you'll be inundated with videos reflecting seasonal sentiments, employing the same metaphors and imagery.
Last year, Ketsumeishi struck big with "Sakura." This year, "hip-pop" duo Funky Monkey Babys (their rapping is slightly better than their command of English spelling), singer-songwriter Angela Aki and female pop duo Rythem, among too many others, have got in on the act, registering chart hits with sakura-related songs.