"Hanami" Time

The title for this post could more aptly be name, "drinking beer in the park under trees that just happen to have cherry blossoms on them", but I thought that it was too long winded. Last weekend was cherry blossom time in Sapporo. One of the most looked forward to times of the year, especially in this part of the country, because it signals the true end of winter. The whole town gets out on the best weekend for viewing the flowers, and they all try to cram into the same parks to sit under said trees, fire up coal barbecues and get thoroughly sloshed. In Japanese this whole process is described with one simple world, 'Hanami'. Sounds a little like Hanabi, which means fireworks, or tsunami, which I think we are all sadly familiar with. And this event comes and goes with a similar type of intensity to both of these similar words.
I have heard it said in Japan that the shortness, beauty, and fragility of the life of the cherry blossom can teach people of the importance and beauty of our own lives, as well as the need to cherish it because it could be snuffed out at any time. Not very poetic, but I think you get the gist of what I'm trying to say. I've heard a similar thing said in the west that could also be said to apply rather well here, 'Life's short, play hard!'.
In Sapporo, Maruyama Park is the place to be at this time of year. Never have I seen so many people BBQing together in such a small place. It sure gave a buzz to the whole thing, though I'm still a fan of having at least a little bit of space to kick a footy, or swing a cat, or whatever else takes your fancy on a nice spring day.