They are revered, praised, and toasted.
They are cherry blossoms - sakura - and they bloom for mere days. In Japan, their arrival is a national event: wide-eyed newscasters narrate elaborate national maps, explaining how one particular region is in 60% bloom. When forecasters get their predictions wrong, by even one day, they issue national apologies.
They are both beautiful, and an excuse to drink sake. They bloom in unbelievably bright colors, and the Japanese stream out en masse to sit in gardens and have picnics as the petals fall. The tradition is known as hanami, and just so happens to coincide with the beginning of spring, the end of the academic year, and multiple other excuses for the Japanese to throw a party.
For a few days only, you can even buy cherry blossom tea. It is surprisingly salty.
1 Comment Received
May 10th, 2008 @1:08 am
Cherry Blossom Tea! That’s something I’d love to try. Nice post!
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