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Published: April 14th 2008
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It is that time of the year in Japan, Hanami, or flower viewing. All over Japan the beautiful sakura, or cherry blossoms, start to bloom and the Japanese celebrate with afternoons in the park, drinking, and karaoke. The cherry blossoms only last about a couple of weeks and traditionally they were viewed to remind us how fleeting our lives really are. The blossoms are short in beauty but last longer in memory. The Japanese national weather center has an equation so they know when the blossoms will bloom. This way companies can plan flower viewing parties where everybody from work gets together and drinks their stress away. While remembering how fleeting their lives are. Many parks put out blue tarps for people to claim and enjoy a lazy afternoon with family or friends.
The blossoms started blooming last week in Sendai but they really didn't open until this week. All last my older students asked me if I had gone to the Hanami. My co and I tried to go last week but there were no blossoms to be found at Nishi-koen when we went and we ended up just getting lunch and getting out re-entry stamps from the Immigration
Office. That was a fun adventure in and of its self. Yesterday i walked down Jozenji-dori to Nishi and joined in the families and groups of friends drinking and enjoying the yatai, food venders, that sprang out of the cold ground. Matsuri, festival, food is some of my favorite food. They surround our with fried are grilled goodness. Since I was alone I walked around the small park and got some karaage, fried chicken, and some juice while I stood back and enjoyed watching the drunken fun. It reminded me a lot of Fourth of July celebrations back home because everybody was on a tarp and laughing while waiting for something to happen. There was a live band and I got to hear 'Hound Dog' for the first time in 7 months. I think i was grinning for the whole song.
All around the city I found splashes of pink from single trees that clashed horribly with the modern city scape. It was almost like playing Wheres Waldo with the cherry trees. Walking around the city you see the brief viewings of the cotton candy trees while doing your shopping. I find it quite refreshing after the gray winter
we had.
A funny thing happened on my way to the International Center. I was returning my books when I saw Chikako. She is a JT we have been training in the office and we, the other staff, have been working as children for their trial lessons. I was so surprised to see her and when I asked what she was doing there she told me she had put up an add for language exchange partners. They left before I checked out another book but I caught up with her and her friend on the way to the arcade and we chatted the whole way there. I really hope that she will be staying in Sendai. I really like Chikako and her friend!
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Lebdawhen
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So beautiful.....
Kathryn, your cherry blossoms are truly beautiful. They are so pink compared to the ones in Washington, DC. I can not wait to see them for myself. Please get them to stay opened until I get there to see them. I have been reading everything Japan I can. I am so ready to be there and see these beautiful trees and YOU. See you soon, LebdaWhen