The social interaction and practices associated with Hanami inJapanese society

AbstractThis study aims to analyze the role of sociocultural activities during Hanami in building community cohesion within Japan's urban environments, with particular focus on collective practices, symbolic exchanges, and group identity dynamics. To explore this objective, we pose the following research question: How do the cultural conditions associated with Hanami strengthen community cohesion in Japanese cities, and how do these interacting factors enhance its social impact?, the research employs a mixed-methods approach (qualitative-quantitative), enabling a comprehensive analysis that combines the depth of qualitative data with the objectivity of quantitative measures. We conducted surveys with 100 participants selected through convenience sampling, a non-probability method, to collect diverse perspectives on the subject. Findings reveal unanimous consensus among respondents: flowering cherry trees (sakura) significantly impact both social and environmental well-being. From a social perspective, they serve as powerful catalysts for collective interaction, as their blooming season stimulates gatherings, celebrations, and community connections during Hanami. The study demonstrates that Hanami functions as a social cohesion mechanism in Japanese urban areas through interrelated factors including tradition preservation, strengthened group identities, and the creation of communal spaces. These findings provide valuable evidence about how cultural practices can adapt to modern urban contexts while maintaining their cohesive social function.