Spring has Sprung

Spring has sprung in Japan. The plethora of flowers bring both joy and punishment as hay-fever suffers pound the antihistamines.  First arriving are the ume (plumb) blossoms, with subtle whites and striking pinks. Their bloom foreshadows spring that brings in the pride and joy of Japanese spring – sakura (cherry blossoms). 

As the ume blossoms bloom and fall sakura begins to bud and bloom.  The report this year predicted that the cherry blossoms will begin to bloom on the 22nd of March.  The cherry blossoms should last about two weeks.  Soon Ueno park and Asakusa will be packed with people sitting under cherry blossoms and enjoying this ritual of spring.  
(© Robert J. Hartung III, 2010 All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.)