 Byrnes found that Departures used the symbol of the cherry blossom , a flower which blooms after the winter only to wither soon afterwards , to represent the transience of life ; through this understanding , he wrote , Japanese people attempt to define their own existence . Natural symbols are further presented through the changing seasons , which " suggest delicate emotional changes " in the characters , as well as the letter @-@ stones , which represent " love , communication , [ and ] the baton being passed from generation to generation " . The film 's settings are used to convey various sensations , including the solitude of the countryside and the intimacy of the public bath house . The colour white , manifested through snow , chrysanthemums , and other objects , is prominent in the film ; Okuyama suggests that this , together with the classical music and ritualized hand gestures , represents the sacredness and purity of the death ceremonies . 
