Ohanami at the Park

~Two Sundays ago, I attended an ohanami, which is a party for viewing cherry-blossoms. Cherry trees have tremendous cultural significance in Japan, and many writers have compared the two-week blooming period of the trees to the Japanese psyche, usually so driven but willing to stop for a glimpse of fleeting natural beauty. At any rate, I had a great time eating lunch with my friends at a park in Miyauchi, along with hundreds of local residents.

Here's a panoramic view of the park (please click on the picture for a much, much better view):

^ The park itself was lined with cherry trees in full bloom, making it colorful indeed.

^ Many families spread out mats and enjoyed the beautiful day. This large group, which I was a part of, was organized by the Nagaoka International Center. We brought our own lunches, but they supplied the drinks (unfortunately, no saké).

^ These girls provided us with live entertainment. They were so photogenic!

^ There were also some games set up, such as this jump-rope contest. Not everyone survived! I also played soccer with some Brazilians. They're scary good. Or maybe I'm just scary bad.

^ The cherry trees remind me of when I lived in the Washington, D.C. area, which is filled with them. As you may recall, the trees were a gift from Japan to America in 1912.

^ Close-up of some cherry blossoms, taken using my camera's macro mode. I think the picture came out well.

^ A path lined with cherry trees at Miyauchi Park. Very peaceful.

~There will be one or two more posts from David Does Japan, with pictures from my farewell party, and some retrospective views of my time spent abroad. Stay tuned! ~Oyasumi.