In 903, a politician Sugawara no Michizane had been casted down and sent from Kyoto to Kyusyu. He made a poem: -- When the east wind blows, I want it to bring the scent of plum flowers to me; even if I disappear from here, you, plum flowers, do not forget spring. -- Then the plum tree suddenly came to Dazaifu, Kyusyu and bloomed. The tree still exists today and blooms slightly earlier than other trees around. Umegaemochi, a plum blanch rice cake, was named for this story.
