Allow this black-and-white gallery to reveal how the absence of color reveals a different side of Japan. In monochrome, shadows offer a sculptural beauty, and boundaries between the man-made and natural world soften, creating visual harmonies that color may mask; the photo's lack of color exposes the work of time, showing the weathered wood, worn stone, and the dignified aging of Japan's beloved Sakura trees. At the bottom of this gallery, you will find the renowned Sakura trees Japan is well-known for. These dignified sakura trees surrounding Himeji Castle tell stories of centuries. Their mature trunks, now supported by bamboo poles, speak to Japan's reverence for age and imperfection. Where other cultures might replace old trees with young ones, each weathered branch is honored and hollow, preserved as a testament to the passage of time. These ancient trees on the castle grounds embody wabi-sabi in their very being – their endurance made more beautiful by their need for support, their dignity enhanced by the careful interventions that keep them standing.