Spring at the Moat (Ohari no Haru)

The castle moat — likely at the Imperial Palace grounds in Tokyo — transforms in spring as cherry blossoms drop petals onto the still water while the stone walls loom above. Kasamatsu depicted the old castle moats repeatedly, finding in them one of Tokyo's most affecting seasonal subjects: the combination of feudal military architecture and the annual explosion of cherry bloom creates an image of historical layering specific to the city. The spring moat (Ohari no Haru) embodies the transience celebrated in Japanese aesthetics.