Blossoms!

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April 1st 2007

Published: April 1st 2007

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td impulse

Osaka Castle & Blossoms

Yep - Spring is here!

Hello all,

If you want a true taste of Japan, it is imperative to take seasons into consideration. The colours you wear, the ornaments in your house, the food you can get, conversations, news - everything. Almost any Japanese will proudly tell you that Japan is known for it's 4 seasons, and of course, spring is one of the most famous.

The cherry blossoms in Japan not only signify everything that is spring, but also call for celebration, contemplation, information, general discussion and pride. The first signs of sakura (cherry blossoms) reach the evening news immediately and talk and speculation follows immediately and fairly consistently about the exact dates of the anticipated full bloom and when to arrange cherry blossom viewing parties.

News reports keep citizens up to date on the percentage of the blossom-age in each prefecture and estimated predictions along with weather reports for the viewing parties. The hordes of people walking to the parks during this time requires extra police staff and even affects traffic by pedestrians flowing onto the street in popular areas and taking over a lane of traffic in some areas, where pylons and uniformed men are quick to follow and

And of couse, the picnic prep!

This is early, early morning, during the det-up for the day

redirect the flow of traffic to ensure the safety of viewers.

Then there are the parties. Office parties, family parties, friend parties, and it is always in form of picnic with drinking (sake or beer) in a park or pretty much anywhere there are petals. In fact, I had a surprising number of students (mostly Saturday, but even on weekdays!!!) admit that they came (drunk) from viewing parties (yes - one of those awkward moments where you wonder, as a teacher, if there is any appropriate response you can make... ?!?!?!)

And of course, in every store you will see images of the pink blossoms. Special sakura beer to consume, all sorts of pastries, rice balls, and sweets using pink, or dried flowers, and prett7y much anything else marketable with edible blossoms or something similar. Lanterns are hung in the parks from the trees and somehow the blossoms filter into every aspect of daily life.

Mind you - there is a very good reason for all this fuss. They are pretty spectacular. I must admit, I think I like the plum blossoms better (they are a deep, dark pink...) but my favourite was a local park where

The Bridge...

Not as many blossoms.. but still nice!

three types of blossoms mingled in a few precious trees.

I have tried to do the blossoms justice in photographs, but I do think that task is impossible as the quantity of the trees could not be captured by my lens, nor could the gusts of wind that would send the petals fluttering down like a light winter snow or the carpeting of the walkways and rivers. Similarly, the petals drifting in clumps in the water was as transfixing as the flames of a campfire, but utterly impossible to catch.

So, enjoy what I did manage...

Trish xxx

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