Cherry Blossom, Science and Culture: Hanami at the Biotechnical Faculty

_DSC0193.jpeg

Photo: Nik Erik Neubauer

Date of publication:

Tag:

  • International cooperation
  • UL BF
  • UL FF

On 8 April, the University of Ljubljana’s Biotechnical Faculty (UL BF) celebrated hanami, the traditional Japanese custom of viewing cherry blossoms, with the aim of bringing Slovenian and Japanese culture closer together. The event featured talks, workshops and social gatherings beneath the blossoming cherry trees at the UL BF Department of Forestry’s Dendrological Garden.

Introductory speeches were given by Professor Klemen Jerina, Vice-Dean of the Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources (UL BF), Her Excellency Yoshida Akiko, Japanese ambassador to Slovenia, and Professor Marina Pintar, Dean of UL BF. The event was hosted by Suzana Perman.

The central part of the programme featured talks given by Professor Robert Brus, a tree scientist based at UL BF, who described the natural riches of Japan season-by-season, mainly through the glowing colours of autumn, and Asst. Prof. Nagisa Moritoki Škof from the UL Faculty of Arts, who shed light on the cultural importance of Japanese spring traditions.