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> In Yamanashi and Kanto

That should read Yamanashi pref. IN Kanto area.

emd

To all sakura lovers and watchers: It is official, the sakura were at full bloom in D.C. today for the Cherry Blossom parade and festival. Sunny and felt like 70 Degrees. The Japan-American Society put on a good festival, w/koto music, Japanese dance, Japanese archery demonstrations, etc. The most interesting act that I saw was the "Tamagusuku Ryu Gyokusen Kai" dance and drumming group from Okinawa. They were incredibly coloful, had "dragons" dancing w/the female dancers on stage, and lots of drummers. There were demonstrations of ikebana, bonsai, tatami making, paper making (now I have an appreciation of the intricacy of the process of making the paper that my antique woodblocks are printed on), origami, people playing the game of "Go" under a tent, etc. I imagine the blossoms were great down by the tidal basin, but I ended up not making the walk down there; instead we'll drive or take metro very early tomorrow a.m. to see them. A sakura picnic may be in my family's future for tomorrow morning.
One thing I really noticed was how much more everything Japanese cost at this festival than it did when I was in Japan. The robes and jackets I got in Kyoto were selling for 4-5 times as much. And people say Japan is expensive- ha! It made me glad I did so much shopping at Toji Market in Kyoto.
Oh, and the food was good too. Mochi, udon, takoyaki (I tried that for the 1st time and liked it), sushi, Japanese sweets, etc. I saw people eating the nikuman (steamed buns w/the meat filling), same kind that kept my son going for two wks in Japan (he never went by a "Newsday" store without getting at least two of those).
I had a Hanshin Tigers bandana tied on my backpack, and at one of the food booths I fella was completely dressed in Tigers outfit and came over to high five me. I was able to talk to him about his beloved home team and tell him what a good fight they put up in the two games I saw them in during the trip.
So, those who are in Japan, please tell us how you are spending your sakura weekend!

KMLoke

Last Friday I went to Kudanshita with my colleagues during lunch hour. It was only 2 stops on the Tozai line from my office at Otemachi. The place was packed especially along the river. It's so beautiful that it took my breath away. At the memorial there was lots of makeshift food and drink stalls. Unfortunately I had to get back to work too soon.

Yesterday morning I went down again to Kudanshita to view the sakura along the river. There was already a sizeable crowd at about 7am.

This morning I went to Ueno-koen. It's beautiful sight as well. The cherry blossoms there are starting to be blown away by the wind. Everytime there's a breeze you can see the petals falling to the ground. To my uneducated eyes I figure the blooms will not last more than a few days more. In some trees the blooms are slowly being replaced by leaves.

emd

KM, I have seen it in D.C. when it "rains" sakura petals, shades of pink and white blowing everywhere. It can almost look like it is snowing if you have a good windy day w/some gusts.

We have another sunny dry calm day here, so another good full-fledged sakura day.

It must be a VERY busy weekend in Kyoto also.

emd

ttt, for anyone else inside Japan or other wise who might have had a fun sakura weekend like we had here.

After seeing these cherry blossoms on the tidal basin in D.C. today, I would like to personally thank the Japanese for giving all those original trees to the U.S., and getting this whole beautiful thing started.

emd

In the spirit of sharing w/our Japanese friends, I wanted to let you know that there is a poster on the US baord here who has put up her photos of the sakura around the DC tidal basin and monuments. They are photos taken in the early morning (no people in them) and can be seen at http://community.webshots.com/user/bluestructure
Click on cherry blossoms. It takes awhile for the pics to load but they are good.