Have you heard of the Japanese tradition called hanami?🌸🍱

Every spring, people in Japan take part in hanami, which means “flower viewing.”

It’s a special event where friends, colleagues, and family gather outdoors to enjoy food and drinks while admiring the cherry blossoms.

The word "hana" means “flower,” but in this context, it specifically refers to cherry blossoms.

Originally, hanami included viewing other flowers like plum or chrysanthemum, but over time, cherry blossoms became the main focus.

This is a great example of how language evolves through culture and history.

Cherry blossoms have been important in Japan for over a thousand years.

In the past, noble families held parties under the trees, and by the Edo period, hanami had become popular among ordinary people.

Today, it is a much-loved tradition across the country.😊

Spring is also a time of new beginnings.

In April, schools start a new academic year, and companies welcome fresh graduates as new employees.

If you visit Japan in spring, you will see young people in new suits, ready to begin their new lives.

For me, cherry blossoms symbolise change and renewal.

When I lived in Japan, seeing them always made me feel refreshed, as if I was returning to my own starting point.💡

Cherry blossoms bloom all over Japan, not just in famous places like Kyoto.

Personally, I love Kawazu-zakura, an early-blooming cherry blossom in March that signals the arrival of spring.

If you visit Japan in spring, be sure to take a moment under the cherry trees and experience hanami for yourself!

Taichi