Cherry Blossoms at Goryokaku Castle Ruins

"Sakura Hana Ranman (Brilliant Cherry Blossoms) is one of my photographic series that covers cherry blossoms across Japan. Goryokaku, in Hakodate City, is a historic star-shaped fortress built in 1866 by the short-lived Republic of Ezo and is one of the few places in Hokkaido where the Somei Yoshino cherry tree can be found. It is also the location for the final battle of the Boshin War (1869) during the transition between the Edo and Meiji periods. The falling cherry blossom are a symbol of Bushido and an image of the last samurai." -Hisao Asano