Hanami party, anyone?

Nagoya Castle during hanami, Nagoya, Japan

Well, even though hanami was a month ago, it was such a neat experience that I just had to write about it. For about 2 weeks in Japan, in early April (depending on where you live), all the cherry trees bloom (of which there are more than you realize!). Seeing the trees bloom was such a lovely uplifing experience, after suffering through a damp Japanese winter. It was the first time for me that Japan really looked like Japan, and not just a big crowded city that could be anywhere. It was the first time I could see the grace and beauty of old Japan, not the hustling bustling new Japan that I was trying to cope with.
The blooming period is called "hanami" in Japan, when everyone drops everything they are doing to go sit under the trees and have a huge party. It's legal to drink outside in Japan, so everyone sits on blue plastic tarps under the trees, with enough food and alcohol to kill a small elephant. It's amazing to be part of, people who you work with who are normally reserved and polite suddenly turn into public exhibitionists, singing songs and generally being really raucous. I even saw one guy at Tsurumai Park climbing a lamp post, sitting on the top, and then screaming and singing to his friends who were sitting nearby. I'm amazed he didn't fall off! My friends told me that it is quite common for people to get alcohol poisoning during hanami, it's very easy to get caught up in the spirit of it and go way overboard.
The closest I can relate it to was being in Wellington, New Zealand on the night of the millenium celebrations. Everyone there was so happy to be a part of it, and you could feel the excitement of the crowds. Hanami is the same, except that it is every night for about 2 weeks! Another friend did cleaning in the parks last year during hanami, and he said that there were still lots of people in the parks every night at 3 and 4 in the morning! And as far as I can tell, this is the season where the normally completely honest Japanese salaryman will lie to his boss to get time off, to go to one or more hanami parties! Apparently, if you are a new staff member of a Japanese company (maybe straight out of high school), you are expected to go to the local park at 6am with your tarp, and reserve a space for your office party. Then, just hang out until noon until some of your staff starts to arrive! Nice job if you can get it! But totally necessary - all the parks I went to were insanely crowded, you couldn't even see any dirt or grass for all the people sitting on it! Nagoya Castle was a little more restrained, but that kind of suited the location - the castle looked lovely surrounded by thousands of cherry trees in bloom.
If you get a chance to be in Japan during hanami, grab it. Kyoto is the favorite place to be for many Japanese during hanami, but anywhere is okay. Nagoya was very fun, and I can't wait until next year!!! (Especially now that I have my new digital camera, a Pentax Optio S40. Way cute and awesome little camera!)