Synopsis

Each spring, an island blooms with cherry blossoms in the Seto Inland Sea. Iwakijima, located in Kamijima-cho, Ehime Prefecture, boasts some four thousand cherry trees and is often called “Tennyo no Hagoromo,” or the angel’s robe of feathers, for the ethereal reflection of the blossoms on Mount Iwakuni. Accessible only by ferry, the island draws visitors from Hiroshima, Matsuyama, and beyond, while locals find their own quiet enjoyment among the scattered blooms. Why are so many cherry trees her