Posted by Jess
7 April 2011
Tuesday the 5th marked the beginning of month nine of our Japan adventures. For this month's post, as it is the season, I'll share about cherry blossom viewing traditions or 'hanami'.
Each year in Japan, thousands of cherry trees start to bloom in late March and early April. Much like the turning of the leaves in Minnesota's autumn, there is a forecast for when the blossoms will be at their best for viewing in different parts of the country. Our calendar (made in advance) even says "cherry blossom viewing this week" on it. Much like the turning of the leaves, the cherry blossoms last a very short time - just a week, maybe two. I have been told that last year it was only a few days. The word for cherry trees here is sakura, while hanami means flower viewing. And this is the week of peak blossoms for Tokyo!
The blooming of sakura historically signaled the rice planting season and were seen as good luck for the harvest of the coming year. People would make offerings to the spirits of the trees and afterward drink sake. This leads us to today's tradition of hanami. Poets who wrote about sakura used the life of the blossoms as a metaphor for life: beautiful, but it lasts only for a short time.
During the good viewing days, people wake early in the morning and go to the park to lay out their tarp. The youngest person in the group traditionally has this duty. As the Japanese would never move or disturb another person's property, the tarps are left there for a few hours and the owners return in the afternoon for hanami. Hanami is mostly today a reason to sit in the park and drink and eat. It's a country-wide picnic. People drink quite heavily and I've been told that you can often find people sleeping on their tarps still the next morning.
On Thursday afternoon, my coworkers and I left work a little early to take part in the tradition. We picked up sandwiches for lunch and brought beer and drinks to enjoy in the park. The weather was beautiful and we chose a spot right near Tokyo Tower. We stayed from about 1pm to 8pm, ordered pizza from Domino's (delivered to the park) and ran to the convenience store when we need more beverages. You could have beer delivered to you at the park as well though if necessary. I was told that usually the park is much busier, especially with the gorgeous weather and the blossoms so beautiful today. It's possible that the celebration is a bit subdued this year. Those that were out were still going when we left and will likely go on well into the evening!
Kanpai!
Jess
7 April 2011
Tuesday the 5th marked the beginning of month nine of our Japan adventures. For this month's post, as it is the season, I'll share about cherry blossom viewing traditions or 'hanami'.
Each year in Japan, thousands of cherry trees start to bloom in late March and early April. Much like the turning of the leaves in Minnesota's autumn, there is a forecast for when the blossoms will be at their best for viewing in different parts of the country. Our calendar (made in advance) even says "cherry blossom viewing this week" on it. Much like the turning of the leaves, the cherry blossoms last a very short time - just a week, maybe two. I have been told that last year it was only a few days. The word for cherry trees here is sakura, while hanami means flower viewing. And this is the week of peak blossoms for Tokyo!
The blooming of sakura historically signaled the rice planting season and were seen as good luck for the harvest of the coming year. People would make offerings to the spirits of the trees and afterward drink sake. This leads us to today's tradition of hanami. Poets who wrote about sakura used the life of the blossoms as a metaphor for life: beautiful, but it lasts only for a short time.
During the good viewing days, people wake early in the morning and go to the park to lay out their tarp. The youngest person in the group traditionally has this duty. As the Japanese would never move or disturb another person's property, the tarps are left there for a few hours and the owners return in the afternoon for hanami. Hanami is mostly today a reason to sit in the park and drink and eat. It's a country-wide picnic. People drink quite heavily and I've been told that you can often find people sleeping on their tarps still the next morning.
On Thursday afternoon, my coworkers and I left work a little early to take part in the tradition. We picked up sandwiches for lunch and brought beer and drinks to enjoy in the park. The weather was beautiful and we chose a spot right near Tokyo Tower. We stayed from about 1pm to 8pm, ordered pizza from Domino's (delivered to the park) and ran to the convenience store when we need more beverages. You could have beer delivered to you at the park as well though if necessary. I was told that usually the park is much busier, especially with the gorgeous weather and the blossoms so beautiful today. It's possible that the celebration is a bit subdued this year. Those that were out were still going when we left and will likely go on well into the evening!
Kanpai!
Jess
6:55 AM |
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