April 19, 2006
Sakura Season
Cherry blossoms (sakura) mark the beginning of spring in Japan. The Japanese absolutely adore this seasonal marker. The whole country goes pink to commemorate it. From "sakura" Kit Kat bars in the grocery store to sakura inspired kimonos in the high end shops, there's no 
escaping the little flowers. What's really sad is every convenience store plays the song "Sakura Sakura" over and over all day. It's one of the songs Natasha is learning to play on the koto, and she's recently been warned that it's the Japanese equivalent of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" from sheer overexposure. Her koto sensei is not daunted and has suggested they play a picturesque duet of the song under a blooming tree.
Of course, this being our first spring in Japan, we've been taking it all in. A few weeks ago, we went to Kyoto and Osaka to 
see the trees. In Osaka especially, it seemed that the whole city was out in the park throwing picnics and sucking back the sake in sakura's honour.
Then, last weekend, we went to Fukuyama Castle with a bunch of friends to start the Hanami (flower viewing party) at noon! Did we "view" flowers? Maybe a little. You can see for yourself in the photo gallery.
The fun is still going on. Not til the last blossom blows off the trees will the sakura fanaticism end. We're not complaining.
Posted by tokidoki at 10:50 PM | Comments (0)