Cherry Blossoms - I Finally Get It!

A recent trip to Japan gifted me another weekend there, and it just happened to coincide with the beginning of the infamous blossoming of the cherry trees.  Now I have heard about this serious tradition for a long time, but never in my years of travel had I been able to actually experience what it was all about.  In the U.S., you learn at an early age that “supposedly” George Washington chopped down a cherry tree when he was a young boy.  Other than that, this type of tree does not hold anything near the significance here that it does in Japan.  I was about to learn why.

On this recent weekend my good friends Momo and Kevin planned to take me to see what this cherry blossom thing was all about.  The plan was to go to Ueno Park in Tokyo, which is the site of one of the two largest cherry blossom gatherings in the city, the other being at a park in Shinjuku.  We would take a few beers and sit under the trees and take in the scene.  So we met up at Shinagawa station, and took the Yamanote line to Ueno station, which drops you off right at the front entrance to the park (which is also home to the Tokyo Zoo by the way).  We picked up a beer each at a convenience store at the station (this was not going to be an all day session as we were on a tight time schedule) and headed into the park.  What I saw was quite a shock.  There was a rather wide, paved walking path that went through the park which was lined on each side by cherry trees.  Under the trees people would spread out their blue tarps and basically in U.S. lingo, have a massive tailgating party.  People would bring food, beer, wine, shochu, and more beer.  It was a very crowded, massive drink, eat and socialize party.

The extent that the people went through to set up their party was quite impressive.  Cardboard boxes became impromptu tables, or they just set out their spread right on the tarp.  It was all very well organized despite the incredible number of people and the wicked consumption of alcohol.  Next to active partygoers there would be people passed out sleeping from having too much to drink. 

I was then told by a few of my good Japanese friends what is the real significance of this incredible social event.  It is not just the simple, beautiful blossoming of a tree.  It also has to do just as much with timing.  You see, the flowering of the cherry tree occurs in Japan more or less around the same time every year, which is the end of March.  The end of March is a significant time in Japan.  Most Japanese company’s fiscal year ends in March.  In addition the school year in Japan also ends in March (and begins again in April).  So what this means is this festival is just as much a celebration of the end of the old year, and the beginning of a new one.  It is a connection period between the past, and the future, and as such can be a great time for celebrating.  This festival is looked upon very enthusiastically by all Japanese throughout the whole year.  Parties are planned in advanced, and can last all day and night, or even longer.  It is a great tradition, and I was so happy to take part in it, as well as to understand it.  Thank you so much Momo and Kevin!!!