Celebrating Hanami in the 20th century
Families celebrating Hanami in Ueno Park
Hanami today is not so different to Hanami thousands of years ago. Japanese people continue the tradition by gathering in great numbers wherever the flowering sakura trees are found. Parks are filled with thousands of people holding feasts under the blooming trees, sometimes these parties will go from early in the morning to late at night. In more than half of Japan sakura blossoming days come at the same time that school and work begins after vacation. Start of semester welcoming parties are often opened or based around Hanami. Parks are flocked with people celebrating Hanami with friends, family and co-workers for many hours or even day’s before Hanami has started. In major cities like Tokyo it was very common to have celebrations under the sakura at night. Hanami night is called ‘Yosakura’ (夜桜)meaning night sakura. In places such a Ueno Park, temporary paper lanterns are hung to celebrate Yosakura.
Hanami celebrations usually involve eating and drinking, and playing and listening to music. Special dishes such as dango and bento are prepared and eaten at the occasion. It is also very common for sake to be drunk as a party of the festivity.
Hanami celebrations usually involve eating and drinking, and playing and listening to music. Special dishes such as dango and bento are prepared and eaten at the occasion. It is also very common for sake to be drunk as a party of the festivity.