In Japanese society, particularly in historical feudal Japan, isagiyosa (, "purity") is a virtue, translated with "resolute composure" or "manliness". Able to be interpreted as "grace with pride", isagiyosa is the capability of accepting death with composure and equanimity. It stands besides other central virtues such as public-spiritedness (kō no seishin), loyalty (seijitsusa), diligence (kinbensa), and steadiness (jimichisa).

Cherry blossoms, because of their ephemeral nature, are a symbol of isagiyosa in the sense of embracing the transience of the world.Richard J. Berenson, Neil deMause, The complete illustrated guidebook to Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (2001), p. 121. Honda (2001) maintains that these virtues are not Japanese in particular but form a moral code common to all Asian agricultural societies.Honda Yoshihiko, 2001, ‘Taiwan de “Taiwanron” wa dô yomareta ka,’ Sekai 688: pp. 220-228, cited after Ulrike Wöhr, Japan’s “Return to Asia”: History, Diversity, Gender, “Images of Asia in Japanese Mass Media, Popular Culture and Literature”, Papers Presented at ICAS 2, Berlin, Germany, 9–12 August 2001ü .

See also Mono no aware

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