Hanami

Quite possibly the most anticipated time of the year all throughout Japan is cherry blossom season. It was about three weeks ago, and now the light pink blossoms have fallen and we have moved on to tea picking season (which is equally stunning where I live). Everyone knows about the abundance of cherry blossoms in Japan, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that cherry blossoms are just the beginning. Starting around the end of March, all of Japan slowly bursts into color, with an endless variety of flowers everywhere you look. It all seems to serve as a prelude to the cherry blossoms, which really are spectacular. And, they are everywhere! Spring time is absolutely beautiful here.

The highlight of spring, and one of the favorite events of the year for most Japanese, is the hanami, or picnic under the cherry blossom trees. These photos are all from a hanami spent with my friends in Fujieda. The food was provided by some Japanese friends that own a pub - and they went all out - Japanese people don't mess around when it comes to food. The only bummer was that we got there late, and therefore did not actually get our own cherry tree to be under. But it was a lovely day still!

Anyway, enjoy the photos!

Just a fraction of the food they made.

More food.

Yosuke working on some sort of stubborn shellfish.

Three colors of spring.

And right through the middle of the beautiful valley, they are building a new highway.This guy was pretty much dancing the entire day.

Some cutie boys from the group next to us.

Jeff and Yoshiko teaching us to sing a new song they wrote.

This is the one Mom will have on the fridge when I come home :)