ArticleKey #4: Hanami

The title of this entry literally means “flower-watching”, and it is one of several Japanese words essentially adopted by European languages - along with, for instance, “samurai”, “judo”, “karate”, “shinkansen”… However, while Japan invented the above martial arts and technology (and the warrior class known as “samurai” is an utterly unique Japanese social/cultural phenomenon), it didn't invent trees or flowers. Trees grow and blossom in most countries, and a riot of colour created by blossoming trees is most likely as impressive anywhere else in the world - yet, it's to Japan that millions of tourists from all over the globe flock every spring to seek and admire the pink of cherries and the white of plums and apples. The following picture helps to better understand the nature of and reasons for that “aesthetic pilgrimage”

It's a weekday in early April, and the time is just after 5 pm. The place is a local park in Fukuoka, and the people are local residents - likely, coworkers who spent the whole day in the office. They see each other every day for many hours a day - and yet, they chose to stay together after work to party _as a group_ . There are food and drinks, and lively conversations - had it been just this one group, it could've been written off as an occasional birthday party or a bunch of nature lovers enjoying a sunny day after quite a few rainy ones. However, it's far from being the case, as there is a score of similar groups (one of them consists of young people looking every bit like students of a local college). What brought them all to the park on that seemingly very ordinary day is a promise… 

The word “promise” is used quite literally, if somewhat unconventionally, because it's national newspapers and specialized websites that just officially declared the “sakura season” open. According to those popular and highly sought after sources, pink is about to become the dominant colour throughout Japan for the next several weeks - and many thousands across the country adjust their schedules to fully enjoy that magical transformation. Alas, just like with weather forecasts, every now and then even experts get it wrong: trees are still more green than pink, and “hanami parties” are missing their key component - be it in parks or, say, on the water.

When trees are “pinkless”, Japanese traditional boats aren't very different from New Zealand punts or Venetian gondolas: they provide a recreational activity with a certain cultural overtone. Notwithstanding, a real purpose of such a ride since as long ago as the Edo period was to provide aristocracy with an additional flower-watching opportunity. 

In other words, Japanese “hanami” is a deeply-rooted cultural and spiritual tradition that affects not only daily activities but also the heart and soul of the nation. It creates an aura of anticipation followed by a sense of fulfillment - and it's arguably that intangible aura, rather than colourful trees as such, that draws so many people to Japan like a magnet.