In Japan, the new school year starts in April. In March, students would know the result of their college entrance exam.

In olden days, when there was no internet nor telephones, there was a service of telegramming the entrance exam result to applicants who lived farther away.

The accepted ones would receive a telegram that says, “サクラサク Sakura saku—cherry blossoms are blooming.”

For those who were not accepted, the message was, “サクラチル Sakura chiru—cherry blossoms are falling.”

Even such telegrams for test results are poetic in Japan!

Sakura Sencha