Sakura in Japanese life

Sakura in Japanese life
Sakura (cherry trees) play very important roles in Japanese life, symbolizing many things.
When sakura trees are in blossom, the view is breathtaking. It's so beautiful, as if the trees are covered with fine pink and white laces. The petals, slowly  falling on the ground, resemble a snowfall. This beauty doesn't last long, only a few days.
So this symbolizes the philosophy that everything has its end, and nothing is forever.
Japanese people enjoy the taste of sadness even observing sakura petals on the ground, after the cherry blossom festivals are over and the flowers have faded.
Yes, people here can find pleasure in observing rather dark and fatal things.
But let's turn our story to the bright side. Sakura also symbolizes the start of the new year in schools and universities. That's because sakura trees blossom in April, when many things in Japan start. Also, most companies count their financial year from April. Here sakura flowers bring us a feeling of something new, fresh and promising, like a New Year dawn.  During this period you can find sakura ornaments on shelves in the school goods sections in many shops, or at clothes stores where they sell business suits for recruits.
However, recently I was surprised by a totally new usage of the sakura theme. It was on the news, that many city offices decide to bring some life into official application forms, decorating them with famous animation characters or traditional ornaments.
For example, if you have moved to another city, you have to go to the city office and fill out an application for registering your new address. While you are filling it out, you could enjoy its cute ornament and feel better, I suppose.
But there was a mistake in designing new divorce applications. For unknown reason the form has a sakura tree but its flowers have already started to fade and fall down to the ground.
People couldn't resist making fun of that, because it so obviously  symbolizes that all good is over.
 (Sort of like the old person driver sign in Japan was depicting a dead leaf, until they have changed it to...  It might be an interesting topic, too.)
Yes, Japanese can enjoy sadness and make fun of the end. Maybe that's the secret of their indifference, decadency, nihilism, and.... longevity!
News link (in Japanese):
http://www.sankei.com/premium/photos/170102/prm1701020015-p1.html