Hanami

Hanami in Komaba Koen, Tokyo

The beautiful cherry blossom has returned once more to Japan.....truly wonderful and uplifting. However, at the same time, I know that within a week of so, the blossom will have fallen and Tokyo will return to the usual concrete and steel. It's funny how the cherry blossom can invoke such contrarian feelings.

Because of the multiple disasters in March 2011, I think that the cherry blossom passed unnoticed and perhaps unappreciated by many. Not only did all people in Japan have a lot to worry about, it would perhaps have been inappropriate to have celebrated the cherry blossom season last year when so many people had lost their lives in the north east of the country.

Maeda House

So the cherry blossom this year feels a bit more special. I was kindly invited to attend a hanami (the Japanese world for a cherry blossom party) at Komaba Koen, near Shibuya in central Tokyo. I didn't actually know most of the people at the party, so it was good to meet and talk to new folk. In true Japanese style, we sat on plastic sheeting under the cherry blossom trees, drank, snacked, and exchanged small talk. Very pleasant indeed!

After the hanami, a small group of us went to the Hobgoblin pub in Shibuya for a couple of pints. I was pretty pleased to be able to order a pint of Scottish Belhaven beer. A good day spent with good people.