It's that time of year again so I thought I'd post a few pics of the Sakura in full bloom. This is what is called a "sakura fubuki" which literally translates into "sakura blizzard".
This is also a "sakura fubuki" - worn by the star of the show "Toyama no Kinsan" which was broadcast from 1970 to 1996 on TV Asahi.
Synopsis: Toyama Kinshiro is a samurai-era playboy who loves sake. However, this is merely a false identity. He is really a magistrate, whose girlfriend works as a spy to find evil deeds and corruption in Edo. Not above ambushing criminals in person, Kinshiro's modus operand; normally involves baring his distinctive cherry blossom tattoo, in order to convince wrongdoers that justice has finally found them out.
Check out Toyama no Kinsan on YouTube
When brought in front of a judge (who invariably turns out to be Kinshiro himself, out of disguise), the criminals are apt to claim that there is no evidence, thereby allowing him to bare his tattoos once more, with the words "Do you not see this blizzard of cherry blossoms?" Realizing that the magistrate himself is a witness to their crimes, the criminals resign themselves to their fate, while Kinshiro, or "Kin-san" as he soon became known, gets to say "Ikken rakuchaku" (Another case solved)
Around late March or early April, when the warm spring wind flows from the south, Tokyo and the surrounding areas are engulfed in a wave of beautiful pink and white flowers. More than a hundred varieties of cherry blossoms grow in Japan. The flowers are an array of shades in white, pink and pale yellow and bloom only for 10-14 days. They are found everywhere across Japan, growing wild in the mountains, forests and riversides or planted in parks, private gardens, schools, public buildings, industrial areas and along many major sakura avenues.
The Cherry Blossom Forecast for 2009 is here
"Hanami" is the act of viewing cherry blossoms and hanami parties can get pretty wild in Tokyo. The most famous party is at Ueno Park. Typical hanami party food includes: yakisoba, onigiri, karaage (fried chicken), osouzai (japanese salad), sushi, korokke (deep fried mashed potato)...etc.
If you don't have the time to make food for the party then stop at the "depachika" and get some goodies to go. They have everything you could possibly imagine already made.
What normally starts out as an innocent picnic with food and drinks often escalates into a drunken mardi gras-like event. So be careful where you take the family during this time of year. Enjoy!
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3 Responses to “Cherry Blossoms” Leave a reply ›
Awesome PIcs my man!!