It’s springtime. I’m glad winter is over but I also can’t believe I’ve gone this long without writing one post. Last week was so warm that everyone, including me, was already thinking about the cherry blossom viewing 花見 (はなみ hanami) parties, but the weather fooled us all and dropped to a chilly 11 degrees this entire week. This is usually an eventful time in Japan for kids in school because the graduation ceremonies 卒業式 (そつぎょうしき sotsugyoushiki) are held around the end of March and the new school year begins, opening with the entrance ceremony 入学式 (にゅうがくしき nyuugakushiki) around the first week of April. My kids are still in nursery school and this is the time of year they see off the 6 year olds who are moving onto elementary schools 小学校 (しょうがっこう shougakkou) , then move up to the next group. There was even a graduation ceremony for the kids at the nursery school. When I saw them preparing, all the teachers in their black suits typically worn during formal ceremonies or celebrations here, I must admit, it already made me rather emotional and all the more real to me how Keiji is getting close to elementary school age. But these new beginnings, it’s what spring symbolizes everywhere.
So, I must resume plans for the annual cherry viewing picnic. It’d be nice to go someplace different this year. Someone had mentioned Yasukuni Shrine 靖国神社 （やすくにじんじゃ）area has some nice spots. A lot of people mention Aoyama Cemetery 青山霊園（あおやまれいえん）as being a great cherry blossom viewing area as well, but I’ve also heard that that area has some negative vibes. This year, the top two places I have heard to be nice cherry blossom viewing, mentioned by various students, are Chidorigafuchi Park and the strip along NakaMeguro river. We’ll see what we can find….