2008年4月6日日曜日

Hanami. Japan's Spring Blossom Symphony!

In Tokyo, spring comes like Beethoven's first symphony: a slow introduction with discords, with Beethoven's search for harmony - one discord after another, just like the rumbling rainy and cold oceanic late winter in Tokyo. Finally, the symphony found a small coordinating chord, then another chord, then another.... And eventually it bursted into this assuring and comfortable Allegro Con Brio... wohh!!... welcome to the wonderful bright harmonies of C major!! The spring cherry blossom in Tokyo always reminds me of this fantastic music work created by the maestro. The flow of the pleasant string ensembles flows just like the ocean of cherry blossoms that waves thru the spring Japan!! Well, for those of you who care to listen to me, I happily hum Tokyo cherry blossom when I conduct Beethoven's C Major symphony.

Hanami, 花見, or the cherry blossom viewing, could be traced to Nara period (AC 710 - 794) where the aristocracy held spring parties with food and dance and drinking while watching the spring flowers. Whatever the legend says, Japanese regard Hanami as a seasonal event as important as the new year!! In fact, in many cases this marks the beginning of the year. A Japanese friend of mine told me that Japanese companies and schools start on 4/1 because of cherry blossom. Believe it or not?! Don't know about you, but I believe what he said!! You ought to come to sit under the mad blossoms of cherry trees, let cherry petals falling on your head, tasting fresh sushi and sipping newly brewed rice sake (and trying hard to stay sober which most of us failed drunkenly) to know how important the hanami is to Japanese and Japan!! (Without hanami, this would have been a different country!)

Tokyo has some of the most beautiful Japanese gardens on earth (it sounded so redundant, but I love to say it anyway, dah!!) which makes the city a premium place to enjoy the cherry blossom hanami. I am showing you some pictures freshly taken at THE Gyoen (or the Royal Garden which was indeed THE private garden exclusively built for the emperor family) where you can see how people enjoy hanami, as well as some of the most peaceful tranquillity you can find in Japan. And....

Urgh, my buddies are calling, and I have to go sakeing now. Chat you later!

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