Hacker News

Japan's cherry blossom database, 1,200 years old, has a new keeper

121 points by caycep ago | 15 comments

hbarka |next |previous [-]

> Initially, they didn’t have much luck. No other researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University, where Prof. Aono worked, would be taking over his record-keeping, Hiroko Nishino, a university spokeswoman, wrote in an email.

I’m surprised that there was lackluster response. For this kind of honor, you would think that there would be a flood of responses. I am attributing it to bad marketing.

nxobject |root |parent [-]

Part of me also thinks: yes, but is there any money/compensation attached to this? Honor, sadly, doesn't pay for grad students or soft money researchers.

gregjw |root |parent |next [-]

Not usually how things work in Japanese culture

tacomagick |root |parent |next [-]

I'd like you to elaborate more on your answer

CalRobert |root |parent |previous [-]

Are people not paid?

thaumasiotes |root |parent |previous [-]

> Honor, sadly, doesn't pay for grad students

Are you kidding? Grad students are well known to receive trivial monetary pay. Most of their pay is in honor.

goodcanadian |root |parent [-]

They still need to eat, and that trivial monetary pay component must come from somewhere . . .

epolanski |next |previous [-]

Japan's cherry blossom truly are wonderful, but I'm not gonna lie, I've seen as beautiful elsewhere, especially in central Europe, Poland especially.

avadodin |root |parent |next [-]

They are just Japanese cherry blossom in Poland anyways.

Many trees of the same family are also stunning in bloom but the Japanese cherry blossom is celebrated not only for its beauty, but also for the fleeting nature of it.

I'm not sure how that translates as the tree is moved to a different climate where it doesn't belong.

haunter |root |parent |previous [-]

Agreed. Classic case of the “Thing vs Thing, Japan” meme

https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/thing-japan

TuneCode |root |parent |next [-]

Hahaha! I'm from Japan, but I totally agree. Honestly, I often find other cultures even more charming in many ways.

LadyCailin |root |parent |previous [-]

Except Place doesn’t have amazing vending machines and konbini like Place, Japan does :D

haunter |root |parent [-]

You are just reinforcing the meme perfectly, well done!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%BBabka_(convenience_store)

aaron695 |next |previous [-]

[dead]

renewiltord |previous [-]

You're supposed to keep an apprentice, man!