cherry blossom viewing
I just realized that it is April. I realize that 1/4 of the year is over, and I feel a slight sense of dread at how fast the days are passing by, but I force myself to accept that it means I am keeping busy in my own way.
Now, the theme of this blog is "Ohanami," or cherry blossom viewing, which is a typical spring event in Japan.
Hanami is said to have started as an event initiated by aristocrats in the Nara period (710-794), and was originally a way to appreciate plum blossoms that were introduced from China. In the Heian period (794-1185), hanami flowers shifted from plum blossoms to cherry blossoms. According to the "Nihon Koki," the origin of hanami with cherry blossoms can be traced back to a banquet called "Hanayen-no-Setsu" held by Emperor Saga. Hanami at that time started as an event for aristocrats to compose poems and play kemari while viewing cherry blossoms, and gradually, farmers began to hold banquets under the cherry blossoms to wish for a good harvest that year. It seems that it was around the Kanbun period in the Edo period (1603-1868) that the general public began to enjoy cherry blossom viewing. At that time, hanami was the viewing of cherry blossoms in the precincts of temples and shrines. During the Kyoho period, the 8th shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune, planted thousands of cherry trees at Asukayama, Sumida River bank, Koganei bank, etc. to encourage the common people to enjoy cherry blossom viewing. It seems that from this time on, the common people began to go out to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom and enjoy cherry blossom viewing while eating lunch under the cherry trees. ("Kanbun (Kanbun) 1661-1673" and "Kyoho (Kyoho) 1716-1736" are one of the Japanese era names.)
Incidentally, I looked up what hanami bento was like at this time. In the late Edo period, Daigo Sanjin's cookbook "Ryori Hayashinan" was published. In the book, there is a menu for hanami bento (cherry blossom viewing lunch boxes). It is ranked in three levels, "top," "middle," and "bottom," and introduces dishes using colorful and beautiful seasonal spring ingredients, with desserts. It seems that the popular dishes at that time were brightly colored egg omelets and fish cakes, and it is surprising that the standard is not much different from the popular hanami bento of today.
Now that our story has returned to the present day, let me write about the recent hanami situation.
Recently, during the Corona disaster, it was not easy to see cherry blossoms and I just watched cherry blossoms privately, but gradually, I feel that I can now enjoy my usual hanami. In Tokyo, the cherry blossoms along the Sumida River and Meguro River are famous. Every year, there are news reports about the huge crowds that gather to view the cherry blossoms. Food and drinks are sold at food stalls and street stores, and people are often seen eating and walking around.
Also, in Ueno Park, it is common to see people spreading out leisure sheets under the cherry trees and enjoying hanami together by spreading out traditional box lunches. At night, the trees are lit up and the nighttime cherry blossoms are beautiful again. I hear that the number of visitors from overseas has been increasing recently, and as a person born and raised in Japan, I am happy to hear that everyone seems to be enjoying hanami.
As the Japanese saying goes, "dumplings are better than flowers," and hanami dumplings are often brought to hanami gatherings. The three colors are green, white, and red (pink), starting from the base of the skewer. There are various theories as to the origin of the three colors, but since ancient times, Japanese people have prayed for good luck with food, and I believe that these three-color dumplings were also made with wishes in mind. By the way, I think that the reason why red is pink is because the red of red and white is pink of cherry blossoms. Well, it looks prettier that way.
By the way, some of you who read this blog may be wondering, "I am going to Japan in late April or early May, will I be able to see cherry blossoms anywhere? In Aomori, the cherry blossoms are expected to bloom around April 16, and in Sapporo, they are expected to bloom around April 24. In the Tohoku region, most of the cherry blossoms will bloom by the end of next week except for Aomori Prefecture, so in late April, you may not be able to see cherry blossoms unless you are in Hokkaido.
Even if you cannot make it this year, I would be happy if you could come to Japan someday to see the cherry blossoms.
See you again in the next blog.