the crucial difference being that the japanese pretty much concentrate on one flower, the cherry blossom, and actually make an even out of it, in the west it isnt even thought as an event, its just something you do naturally as spring comes along.
i might also note in my city theres a good few cherry blossom tree's (least they look like cherry blossoms) and the biggest best one is in the corner of a church graveyeard in the centre of town (its a small city).
so viewing cherry blossoms isnt unique to japan, simply the way people do it.
also i need to get a cutting of a cherry blossom tree sometime to grow my own from scratch =D.
for me, i like vistting thw winter gardens in winter, preferably with my g/f it isnt as big as a whole national tradition but its somethnig i like to do.
the only thing that really makes japan unique is its constant claims to it, but saying that, its still a different country, culture, and society from ours, its different enough i would think it wouldnt need to constantly claim uniqueness.
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