-Ume, or plum tree, is a deciduous broad-leaved tree of the Rosaceae family, Cerasus genus. The blooms are white, pink, or red. Being very fragrant and beautiful, Ume is loved by many people.
-Ume blooms in late January and February.
-In ancient times, the word “Hana,” meaning “flower,” often referred to Sakura, but “Hana” in Manyoshu (Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves (from the late 7th century to the late 8th century) and Kokin Wakashu (Collection of Poems of Ancient and Modern Times/in the early 10th century) referred to Ume. Therefore, Ume was the top flower of the times.
-Ume is the important flower in Tenman Shinto shrines. This is because Michizane Sugawara, enshrined in these shrines, loved Ume blossoms.
-Ume also means plum fruits. Ume fruits are produced into dried pickles, jam, and alcohol. Dried pickles are called “Umeboshi,” and they are made by sun-drying salted Ume. They taste very sour, but they go well with steamed white rice. They also have infection-fighting properties, so they are often used for bento lunch boxes. A red Ume on white rice is a typical pattern of bento, and this looks like the Japanese flag called “Hinomaru,” so this type of bento is called “Hinomaru Bento.”
-The rainy season in June and July is called “Tsuyu.” For this word, the Kanji characters “梅雨” are used. They literally mean “Ume rain.” It is not clear why it is called so, but the accepted theory is that in that season Ume fruits mature.
-Many people believe that it is bad to eat Umeboshi and eel together. They never do this.
-The blossoms of cherry, plum, and peach trees are very similar in shape and color. They also bloom at almost the same time. These are the points to distinguish them.
| Plum | Peach | Cherry | |
| the tips of petals | Round | Pointy | V-shaped Cut |
| number of blooming from one place | one from one place | two from one place | many from one place |
| stems from the twig | no stems | short stems | long stems |
Good Ume Viewing Places in Kyushu
- Maizuru Park, Fukuoka
- Bairin Temple, Kurume, Fukuoka
- Dazaifu Shrine, Dazaifu
- Kofuji Ume Garden, Itoshima, Fukuoka
- Ushio Ume Woods, Ogi, Saga
- Shimabara Castle, Nagasaki
- Hitoyoshi Ume Garden, Kumamoto
