The Biotechnical Faculty at the University of Ljubljana, in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan and the Department of Asian Studies at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Ljubljana, invites you to celebrate one of the biggest and oldest Japanese holidays - Hanami.
At the Hanami Festival, an event celebrating the symbol of peace and coexistence of cultures, we observe and celebrate the beauty of the Japanese cherry blossom, which has been a natural and cultural symbol of Japan for centuries. The pink blossom of the Japanese cherry blossom is breathtaking everywhere - including in our own subalpine country, where, with a few weeks' delay, it also blooms here.
The event is becoming a tradition, as it will be held for the third time in April 2025 in an authentic and traditional Japanese way in the Dendrological Garden of the Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources (Večna pot 83), Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana. We do not have the exact date of the event at the moment, as we are hunting for the days when the Japanese cherry trees will bloom in their most beautiful glory. Experts (especially Dr Kristjan Jarni, who is following the opening of the buds with daily photographs) believe that this year, due to the recent cold snap, it would make sense to organise Hanami between 14 and 18 April.
To facilitate the organisation, we kindly ask you to pre-register at this External link to LINK Open in new window.
Three Japanese cherry trees were planted in the Dendrological Garden of UL BF in 2022 as part of the planting of Japanese cherry trees at the University of Ljubljana. The cherry trees, donated by Yamanashi University, were planted to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, and to commemorate the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2022 (2021).
In the same year, they were also planted at other members of the University of Ljubljana, namely the Academy of Fine Arts and Design, the Faculty of Economics, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geodesy, the Faculty of Social Work, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy and the Faculty of Pedagogy.
The Japanese call the cherry blossom or flowering cherry tree sakura. Although it is one of the most widespread plants in the northern hemisphere, most varieties of wild cherry are found in East Asia, including at least ten in Japan. These trees do not bear fruit, but they delight us with their beauty from late March to mid-April, when they bloom gloriously in delicate pink and white colours.
Hanami 2025 will therefore be organised on a selected day of the week from 14 April to 18 April 2025, in the afternoon, starting at 16.30. Among other things, you will have the opportunity to listen to short but interesting lectures on:
the natural and cultural significance of Japanese cherries,
the largest Japanese garden in Europe - welcome to Maulévrier,
celebrating spring in the Slovenian way.
The lectures will be given by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nagisa Moritoki Škof (UL Faculty of Arts), Prof. Dr. Robert Brus and Prof. Dr. Valentina Schmitzer (both from UL BF).
After the lectures, you can attend:
- a workshop on origami, ayatori or writing names in Japanese characters,
- a quiz on Japanese culture and language,
- a tasting of traditional Japanese food and drink,
- a tour of the stalls,
or just join a relaxed gathering among the cherry blossom trees.
Hanami 2025 will be attended again this year by Her Excellency Mrs Yoshida Akiko, Ambassador from the Embassy of Japan. The Dean of the UL BF, Prof. Dr. Marina Pintar, and the Vice Dean of the Department of Forestry, Prof. Dr. Klemen Jerina, will also welcome us with their speeches. Various Slovenian associations of Japanese culture lovers and students who have visited or studied in Japan are expected to help enliven the event with their contributions (including music).
As the organisation of the event is still in progress, we kindly invite all students who could add their experiences, memories or props to the programme and the atmosphere.
In the meantime, you are welcome to follow the daily phenological development of the Japanese cherry blossom in the photos below. The photos are taken by Dr Kristjan Jarni.
11.3. 2025
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