Some of you may have been to Washington DC in April and viewed the cherry blossoms. Those trees were a gift from Japan in 1912. Over here we get to see the real thing. These first two pictures are the view from our bedroom window, as we have 3 large trees on our lot. 
Cherry blossom time is a very big deal in Japan. Weather officials are also a part of the hype. The forecast maps went pink in March and April as officials issued predictions of when and where flowers would bloom. A couple years ago they missed their forecast by a couple days and issued a national apology. These predictions are crucial in a country where hanami -- flower-viewing parties at which lavish picnics are consumed, accompanied by beer or sake -- are planned weeks in advance among friends or by businesses looking to boost employee morale.
We heard that some companies would send out employees days in advance to claim a particular
location to party.
On Monday March 30 I went to a park in Ueno, about a 50-minute train ride from our house. Not all the trees were in bloom but I was able to get some nice pictures. Then on Saturday, April 4, we went to Shinjuku Gyoen, another large park with over 75 varieties and over 1500 trees, and the day was perfect. The trees were in full bloom and thousands of people were there. We thought it was interesting that an announcement was made in both Japanese and English that said that it was illegal to have alcohol on the park grounds. It was everywhere. 
Some of the people had little box lunches, others had brought grills but the most ingenious group that we saw was at a park closer to our home. A number of young men walked past us with bags, coolers and a generator that was needed to power the microwave that one of the guys was carrying. Sorry I missed that picture. Of course you don’t have to bring your own food. Some of the areas do have vendors that tempt you with fine Japanese delicacies. Those of you that read my last blog will not be surprised to know that the Lord gave me the strength not to yield to temptation.
(Fish on a stick? I don’t think so.)
For you golfers out there, I heard an announcement that one of the local golf courses would be closed on Sunday so that people could walk around the course and picnic under the trees. Somehow I just don’t see that happening in the States!!
So sit back and enjoy.
