Cherry Blossoms

Rejoice for the end of winter is nearly here, and one of the best times to be in Japan is almost upon us. I am speaking, of course, of cherry blossom viewing or hanami. Just picture it! The weather will soon be warmer, the days longer, and it’ll be time again to gather with friends and family under a canopy of those exquisite pink blossoms. Just in case you happen to be new to Japan and Japanese culture, hanami means “flower viewing,” not just any flower but cherry blossoms. In a nutshell, hanami is a picnic with many more flowers and is sometimes accompanied by music and entertainment. Considering the crowds of Tokyo, it can often end up being more like a picnic at a festival. Of course, since the start of the pandemic, things have toned down considerably, and the view of thick crowds of people spending time under the pink trees is once again likely to look a bit different this year. When will the blossoms bloom? Of course, we need to know when precisely the trees will burst forth with their lovely pale pink flowers. Every year, the Japan Meteorological Administration (JMA) puts out its “sakura forecast”…