花見

The sakura (cherry blossoms) have been blooming like its the end of the world and I have been knee-deep in hanami, the Japanese custom of cherry blossom-viewing. Just this weekend I went to a hanami barbecue, and there are several invitations to visit Akizuki, the nearby mountainous, natury, pretty place this weekend for more hanami parties.

The word itself, hanami, is formed by taking the word for "flower" (hana) and the verb "to see" (miru) and mashing them together until they stick. Flower-seeing. Although the term does not specify that the flowers are specifically of the sakura variety, it is only used to describe cherry blossom viewing. I guess if you are in Japan, Sakura are THE flowers in your life.

Every day as I bike to school (yes dad, i am biking to school again), I ride along a road lined end to end on both sides with sakura trees, erupting with pink blossoms. It's amazing and, though I am tired, it puts me in a minimally happy/sleepy state, which is a few rungs better than grumpy/sleepy.

My commute (click to enlarge):


3 comments:

Kinoko Times said...

Damn. You get a really nice view on your way to work. I only get to see them if I go the train station! haha.
But I have been taking many pictures of the trees at my school. :]

Krampus said...

Ah man, those are lovely photos. Amagi seems to have better sakura than Tag. Hmmppphhhh!

Mike said...

you have no idea! That is just the beginning.