Break Amid Blossoms

About five weeks ago, this nation went through something catchier and more enjoyable than hay fever: marveling at the front of cherry flowers. Yes, I mean "front" in the same sense the weather report does, because an amazing amount of tourism cash depends on exactly when those buds open up in any given locale. In an apparently rare twist, Tokyo led the nation this time.

My campus is bisected by a long road deliberately lined with these trees, which bear token fruit but are of a separate variety specifically groomed for its profuse display of pink. Still, I saw quite a few vials of 'cherry blossom jelly' for sale as locals attempted to cash in on the yearly phenomenon.

The florified surroundings are merely the tip of the proceedings, however. To really enjoy the scenery, people are supposed to go out to parks and enjoy a meal with friends underneath the falling petals. As I did so, a gentle wind came and shook several blossoms off their branches, leading one of my foreigner friends to exclaim, "This is Japan!" At that moment, I didn't want to disagree; the suggestion of life's transience (James 4:14) and the mild weather were indeed just about ideal for our picnic.

This ritual is also a mark of democratization, in that so much which several centuries ago was only enjoyed by nobles (leisure time, disposable income, flavorings such as salt) are now regarded as basic to the average affluent lifestyle. When my grandparents & I visited the National Museum, the National Treasure on display was a wood panel painted with a scene of ancient courtiers and their boxed bento lunches taking in the flower view; I could only smile.