Sakura Flowers

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One of the things I’ve been looking forward to most ever since I came to Japan is the sakura or the cherry blossom season.

Up until now, I have only seen sakura from movies or pictures and has always thought that the falling petals would evoke a strong feeling of sentimentality and would make you ponder on the transience of life.  I blame it all on Makoto Shinkai’s anime, 5 Centimeters per Second (秒速５センチメートル) and Yamazaki Masayoshi’s song, One More Time One More Chance.

I don’t know if I’ve just become dense but I did not find the season as sentimental as I thought I would. Maybe it’s because the actual sakura flower viewing or Hanami (花見） is actually a festive event and is marked by drinking booze and merry making starting at noon

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Sakura at the Musashi Koganei Park

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Nonetheless, the blooming sakura trees are indeed a breath taking sight. My poor photography skills did not do them justice

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Father and Child Appreciating the Sakura, Tachikawa Park

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Come to think of it, when you do really ponder on it, life is indeed like the sakura, beautiful and fleeting.