Hanami

Hanami

The Japanese have a bit of an obsession with cherry blossom. Not only do they go to see it, pretty much everything in spring is the same colour as it - adverts, phones (including mine), food, clothes... Before I came here I read a travel book on Japan that combined cycling, Christianity and cherry blossom - interesting!

Hanami - cherry blossom viewing - is a huge event in Japan. Basically as soon as all the flowers bloom, everyone gathers in large groups under cherry trees for a picnic with lots of sake. Everyone knows when this time will be, as there are cherry blossom forecasts alongside the weather forecasts.

I decided that it would be wrong for me not to celebrate this while I'm here, so I joined members of my badminton club to join a gathering organised by a bar. It was really enjoyable and I talked to lots of people in Japanese and English, everyone was really friendly, and by the end of the afternoon, also a bit tipsy. If you ever get the chance to go to a Hanami party, go!