The Japanese story of the cherry blossom is that of a samurai who grew old and watched his favorite cherry tree begin to die.
In service to the tree, the old man sat at the bottom of the tree and committed ritual suicide.
His life essence nourished the tree which then thrived 'to this day.'
Within an hour of his death the tree began to blossom and that is why the cherry tree blossom is the national flower of Japan.