Arri-news 2014

In Japan, the fleeting beauty of the springtime cherry blossom is rich in cultural significance and highly anticipated every year. Detailed forecasts from the Japanese Meteorological Agency track the progress of the cherry blossom front, or sakura zensen , as it moves northward from late March through April, spreading a blanket of delicate pink flowers over the country. Since the flowers only stay on the trees for a week, they are revered not only for their beauty, but also for their poignant transiency – a reminder of the ephemeral nature of life. The centuries-old practice of picnicking under the bloom of the cherry blossom has evolved into today’s Hanami festivals, which see the population gathering together at parks and public spaces to enjoy the spectacle. ARC System, a prominent Japanese lighting equipment rental company, has an annual tradition of illuminating cherry trees along the Nogawa River in Chõfu, west Tokyo, for just one night of the blossom. The tradition started when the company up-lit a single tree for the benefit of its employees, but has grown into a major seasonal event, attended by thousands of local residents and widely covered in the media. For the 2014 event, 93 cherry trees along 650 meters of walkway beside the river were up-lit with 151 lampheads. ARRI daylight fixtures were selected for their powerful, high-quality light output, reliability ARRI lights from ARC System in Tokyo illuminate the short-lived blossoms of cherry trees beside the Nogawa River UNDER THE CHERRY BLOSSOM 36 ARRI NEWS