Spring 2012 Begins

Yesterday was the Vernal Equinox and the official start of spring, which is welcome news to this San Diego boy, who never managed to get used to Japan’s cold winters. Now Japanese people will do nothing but talk about sakura for the next three weeks, enjoying open-air parties beneath the cherry trees while they drink beer and sake and generally have a great time. You don’t have to be in Japan to enjoy Japanese-style cherry blossoms, of course, as there are many sakura festivals at various cities in the U.S., from Philadelphia to Seattle. This year is an extra special one if you’re in the Washington D.C. area, since 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the planting of the first cherry trees, a gift of friendship from the nation of Japan to the U.S. in 1912. What are you going to do to celebrate spring this year?

I want to walk beneath the cherry trees with Tomoyo.