What is Hanami?
'Hana' means flower and 'Mi' is to do with looking, so you could say that hanami means 'looking at flowers' or 'flower viewing' but there is more to it than that. Hanami was originally a religious ritual to pray for a good rice crop, the trees in full bloom likened to a good harvest later in the year. During medieval times, the way cherry petals fall at the height of their beauty and their transience assumed symbolism both in the Samurai warrior code and in Buddhism. In Japan today the tradition of gathering under the blossoms is a chance (read: excuse) to get out and party, picnic, drink, see old friends and make new ones, more than a religious or symbolic event. It is beautiful, it can be enchanting...
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
O-Hanami 2008 @ Nakano Arai Park
29March2008
Spring does wonders to the Japanese landscape as well as its residents.
Sakura (cherry) blooms all across the multitude of parks in Tokyo. People - old, young, friends, couples, all gather underneath to cherish the spirit of Spring.
Plentiful of food and sake (japanese rice wine) make some call it "hana yori dango" (food over flowers)
More wiki info on Hanami - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanami
Location of park - http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=102457220862948450949.000434a59132f6dc820b7&ll=35.714987,139.667492&spn=0.00095,0.001824&t=h&z=19
Spring does wonders to the Japanese landscape as well as its residents.
Sakura (cherry) blooms all across the multitude of parks in Tokyo. People - old, young, friends, couples, all gather underneath to cherish the spirit of Spring.
Plentiful of food and sake (japanese rice wine) make some call it "hana yori dango" (food over flowers)
More wiki info on Hanami - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanami
Location of park - http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=102457220862948450949.000434a59132f6dc820b7&ll=35.714987,139.667492&spn=0.00095,0.001824&t=h&z=19
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