Willow tree (yanagi)
Japanese have since ancient times associated each month of the year with one flower or plant. November is the month of the willow. There are many legends linked to the willow mostly about willowy women who were really willow tree spirits and who married a human.
Considering how much the willow tree is featured in Japanese myths, legends and folktales and classical literature, it is surprisingly a rare sight in urban Japanese parks today. They might be one or two around a marsh or pond, and a number of willow trees remain surrounding the moat of Kumamoto Castle today.
NATURE IN JAPAN 