Cherry blossoms only bloom once a year, and holding flower viewing parties in parks has become an indispensable tradition for Japanese people. This culture also attracts millions of international tourists to visit the land of the rising sun every March and April.
This year, with the increasingly complicated Covid-19 pandemic, border closures (by various countries) and cherry blossom festival cancellations in some places in Japan, many tourists have missed the cherry blossom season. However, no one can stop the Japanese people from taking to the streets to welcome the blossoms.
People gathered in the streets and parks to see the cherry blossoms in bloom.
According to the Japanese government's recommendations, since the beginning of March, people have limited gatherings in public places, festivals and major events have been canceled, postponed or suspended indefinitely, large parks have also been closed, and parties, if held, have had to be reduced in scale, but the cherry blossom season cannot be ignored. That is the reason why since last weekend until now, Tokyo residents have gathered in small groups in parks to see the flowers in bloom.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike admitted that stopping Japanese people from holding cherry blossom parties was like "stopping Italians from hugging each other." To ensure safety, she urged people to avoid gathering in large groups to drink and snack under the trees.
Can't miss the cherry blossom season even in the middle of the epidemic season
"I come here every year to see the flowers, I feel bad if I miss it," Tokyo resident Etsuo Fujisawa told AFP as he strolled through the city's Ueno Park, where 800 cherry trees are in full bloom.
There are signs warning against parties to discourage picnickers, but many still visit parks or take to the streets to see the blossoms. At Ueno Park, small groups and couples sit together on mats under the cherry trees, eating and drinking and admiring the blossoms.
People gathered to eat and drink in groups under the cherry blossoms in the park.
Similarly, at Chidorigafuchi Park and the nearby walking path, there was a warning message that eating and drinking should not be done, but there were still groups of people having picnics and none of them were wearing masks.
“We’ve been told to limit our movements, but I want to have at least one party because this is the real joy of spring,” Yuichiro Tanaka, who came to the park for a picnic with friends, told reporters. “Usually we have hanami parties every weekend during the blossom season, but this year we’re doing it just once, just today,” another said.
As of March 27, Japan had 1,387 people testing positive for Covid-19 virus, of which 47 cases had died.
