Approach of the Cherry Blossom Front-Let's Ohanami Enjoy Sakura Viewing

March is the season when many Japanese people begin thinking about the approach of the "cherry blossom front," that is, the forecast announced by the Japan Meteorological Agency on when cherry blossoms are expected to bloom. In addition to weather, the agency also observes seasonal phenomena through plants, etc., such as when plum or cherry blossoms bloom in an area or when the song of the cicada is first heard.

In the case of cherry blossoms, the agency's meteorological observatories around Japan observe sample cherry trees (primarily those of the Someiyoshino variety, also known as Prunus yedoensis) and announce forecasts of when they expect to see five to six blossoms bloom on the sample tree (probable date of blooming) in their respective areas. The "cherry blossom front" is a line that shows where cherry blossoms are expected to bloom on the same date.

Many Japanese people have a love for Ohanami Sakura viewing in celebration of the arrival of spring. Some take walks under the blossoms soaking in their beauty, while others enjoy parties under the trees.

Actually, Ohanami is a historic custom, said to have begun during the Heian period (794-1185) when aristocrats enjoyed viewing the cherry blossoms. During the Muromachi period (1336-1573), this custom is said to have spread to the samurai class. Later, during the Edo period (1603-1867), Tokugawa Yoshimune, the eighth Tokugawa Shogun, is said to have encouraged cherry blossom viewing, spreading this custom to the populace at large.

After all this, you may be wondering if you need to go someplace special to enjoy cherry blossom viewing. Actually, it basically does not matter where you go so long as there are cherry blossoms to be viewed. Your friends are sure to have a favorite Ohanami site or two (an indication of just how much the Japanese people love Ohanami), so try asking them for suggestions.

A common way to enjoy Ohanami is to go to a park or other such area with many cherry trees, lay out a large plastic picnic blanket under a cherry tree where they sit and enjoy an outdoor party with food and drink. Ohanami is often used as one of the ways for people from the same office or members of a hobby circle to promote good fellowship. Why not go on an Ohanami with your new Japanese friends to deepen your friendship with them?

There are also many other ways to enjoy Ohanami. For example, it can be quite lovely to visit Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple gardens for a tranquil cherry blossom viewing experience. Enjoying a meal or drinks at a hotel lounge or restaurant with a beautiful view of the cherry blossoms outside is another good way to do Ohanami. Taking a river boat ride on a Yakatabune (traditional roofed pleasure boat) or sightseeing boat to view cherry trees lining the riverbank is also an Ohanami experience with flavor. Recently, there are also places where the trees are lit up at night creating a fantastical atmosphere for cherry blossom viewing.

According to the Japan Weather Association, cherry blossoms in western and eastern Japan are expected to flower this year (2008) at around the average time in many areas, while it is forecast to be a little earlier than in average years for many areas in the Tohoku region.

The forecasted date for the flowering of cherry blossoms in northern Kyushu is around March 26. Areas famous for cherry blossom viewing include Nishi Koen park in Fukuoka City.

Cherry blossoms are expected to begin blooming around March 30 in Shikoku's Kagawa and Tokushima prefectures. Crowds are expected at places popular for cherry blossom viewing, such as Kotohiki Koen park in Kannonji City, Kagawa Prefecture.

In Nara, cherry blossoms are expected to begin blossoming around April 1. Tourists from all over Japan will be gathering at Yoshino-yama (Mt. Yoshino), with its estimated 30,000 cherry trees of about 200 varieties.

In the heart of Tokyo, cherry blossoms are forecasted to begin blooming from around March 28. Ueno Onshi Koen park is especially famous for its cherry blossoms and extremely large crowds are seen there every year during Ohanami season.

The cherry blossom front will move further north in April, with blossoms flowering in the Tohoku region. Forecasted dates are around April 5 in Fukushima Prefecture, around April 15 in Yamagata Prefecture, around April 17 in Akita Prefecture and around April 20 in Aomori Prefecture.

Finally, the cherry blossom front will reach Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, with the flowering of cherry blossoms in Sapporo expected at around the end of April during the Golden Week holidays.

Will the cherry blossoms bloom as forecasted? Why not observe a cherry tree in your area to find out?

You can find famous Ohanami spots around Japan through travel guidebooks and Internet websites. You can also use the Top 100 Sakura Spots selected by the Japan Cherry Blossom Association as reference.

Japan Cherry Blossom Association:
http://www.sakuranokai.or.jp/

Last but not least, some comments related to Ohanami etiquette. Enjoying alcohol is often a part of Ohanami, but loud drunken behavior or leaving garbage behind are definitely things that one should never do. Furthermore, breaking off a cherry tree branch to take the blossoms home with you may be considered violating the Minor Offense Act. Let us all enjoy the beautiful blossoms of spring gracefully with others enjoying Ohanami.

We spoke with two Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho) Scholarship students who arrived in Japan at around the same time as all of you and are currently studying at Hiroshima University. They are Enian Cela (age 24) from Albania and Anisur Rahman Faroque (age 28) from Bangladesh.

The two are master's course students, with Mr. Cela specializing in International Economics, and Mr. Faroque in Development Economics.

As you know, Hiroshima was the target of the world's first atomic bombing of a city. Today, it is known as the city that continues to transmit the message of world peace.

The University of Hiroshima, where the two are currently studying, was established as a national university in 1949. It was originally located in Hiroshima City, but in 1982 began relocating its campus to the suburbs of Higashi-Hiroshima City. Hiroshima University's Higashi-Hiroshima campus is spacious and set in a beautiful natural environment.

How are you socializing with Japanese students at your university and others?

<Mr. Cela>

I made many Japanese friends right away through my tutor, who introduced me to his friends. Albanians are highly adaptable people. More than three times the number of its domestic population is said to live abroad. I had no problem becoming friends right away with Japanese people as well as other foreign students.

Last summer, we had a party by a lake situated close to our university. About 300 Japanese and foreign students were at the lake-side party. Recently, one of the foreign students from Austria set up a special Austrian wine party. The university also held welcome parties for us as well as parties where we danced the dances and sang the songs of our home countries. These gatherings helped us to become good friends with each other. I also often go to Izakaya (Japanese-style pubs) with my friends. My Japanese friends are very kind, and they help me right away if I am in need. I love the smiles on the faces of my Japanese friends more than anything else.

Enian Cela

<Mr. Faroque>

As a Muslim I do not drink alcohol, so I have not attended Mr. Cela's parties. However, I do enjoy having people come over to our home for meals together.

My wife has made many Japanese friends. We invite professors as well as friends from the university to our home. There are some other students from Bangladesh living in Sun Square Hiroshima-the public housing where I live operated by the Hiroshima Prefectural Housing Corporation. There are also people from Bangladesh living close by. Many of us get together from time to time. I have participated in and enjoyed the parities organized by the university.

Anisur Rahman Faroque

What kind of problems did you encounter after coming to Japan? Also, do you get homesick?

<Mr. Cela>

I was worried that the entrance exam would be very difficult. However, I was able to take the examination in English, and I also found that it was not so very difficult. Fortunately, the classes in my major are in English, so I do not have a language problem. On the other hand, this means that I do not have much opportunity to learn Japanese, so next year, I am planning to take some classes in Japanese.

I recently received a notice for income tax returns. As a scholarship student, I was not sure if I had to report my income, so I went to the tax office to confirm. I went to the tax office by myself and was able to communicate in Japanese. I filed the income tax return as having no income.

<Mr. Faroque>

I passed my entrance exam with the highest score. Like Mr. Cela, I attend my classes in English so I have no language-related problems in my studies.

I think the biggest problem I encountered was in relation to food. Now, I order foodstuff online from a halal (meat slaughtered in the ritual way prescribed by Islamic law) food shop in Tokyo. As for cooking meals, my wife takes care of that so there is no problem at all. Because the campus is located in the suburbs, bicycles are a convenient way for going to school. I did not know how to ride a bicycle when I arrived, so this posed a problem.

What are your future goals?

<Mr. Cela>

Japan is a country with the political power that can affect many countries around the world. I enjoy being able do research in international economics in such a country. My father is a politician and a former member of parliament back in Albania. I hope to become a politician like he is back in my home country. I would particularly like to make use of what I am learning in Japan and address improvement of the Albanian economy.

<Mr. Faroque>

In doing my research in the Ready Made Garments (RGM) sector of Bangladesh, the most export earning sector of my country and hence, an important theme for the development of my country, I am feeling how high the quality of research in Japanese universities is. My supervisor is very knowledgeable and cooperative. What is more, I can do my research in a very safe environment. I am glad that I came to Japan, and I would like to recommend coming to Japan as a foreign student to my juniors in Bangladesh. I love my country very much. I strongly hope to contribute to my country as an economist on the basis of my research here in Japan.

The Japan Foundation has a wide variety of programs that foreign students can utilize.

The Japan Foundation Provides Tools and Services for Learning Japanese as Part of Its Activities for the Introduction of Japanese Culture
Hono-o-Daiko, a Japanese Taiko drumming group comprised of three women, toured Spain in mid-September 2007 performing in Madrid, Zaragoza, Calanda, Barcelona and Calella. This performance tour was carried out with the support of the Japan Foundation, and all performances were concluded with great success.

The Japan Foundation is an independent administrative institution that implements comprehensive international cultural exchange programs and activities around the world in three major categories: Arts and Cultural Exchange, Japanese-Language Education Overseas and Japanese Studies Overseas and Intellectual Exchange.
See: http://www.jpf.go.jp/e/

The resources and programs offered by the Japan Foundation that can be used by those of you currently studying in Japan as a foreign student include the following.

1) Television program on NHK Educational TV: "Erin Ga Chosen! Nihongo Dekimasu (Erin´s Challenge! I Can Speak Japanese)"
NHK Educational TV is currently showing reruns of this program, which was originally broadcasted in 2007. The reruns will continue to be broadcasted in April and beyond.
See:
http://www.nhk-book.co.jp/shop/main.jsp?trxID=0130&webCode=
61894382008

2) DVD: Erin´s Challenge! I Can Speak Japanese (Three volumes)
These DVDs contain all episodes of the aforementioned television program in addition to original material found only in the DVDs. It is a resource for learning beginner's level Japanese.
See: http://www.jpf.go.jp/e/urawa/e_j_rsorcs/erin.html

3) Japanese-Language Institute Library
These are libraries operated by the Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute that offer a collection of resources that include textbooks for learning Japanese as well as other books, materials and information related to the Japanese-language education, the Japanese language, linguistics and Japanese society. The libraries are open to the general public.
See: Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Urawa
http://www.jpf.go.jp/e/urawa/index.html

The Japanese-Language Institute, Kansai library is available for those in the Kansai region.
See: http://www.jpf.go.jp/e/kansai/index.html

4) Japanese-Language Proficiency Test
The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test is held around the world every year in December. Japan Educational Exchange and Services holds the tests in Japan, while the Japan Foundation is in charge of the tests held overseas. The 24th test in December 2007 was held in 137 cities in 49 countries and regions around the world. More than 520,000 people took the test.

There are four tests - from Level 1 to 4 - with Level 4 being the most basic. Why not consider taking the test as a measure of your achievement in learning Japanese? The next test is in December 2008.
See: http://momo.jpf.go.jp/sushi/index.html

Japan Foundation Services to Support Your Life in Japan
The JF Supporters Club is a Japan Foundation membership program open to anyone with an interest in international exchange. Activities such as lectures and exchange meetings are available through this program, and it may provide a good opportunity to foreign students for making many Japanese friends.

Annual membership fee: 3,000 yen (2,000 yen with student discount)
Website: http://www.jpf.go.jp/jfsc/index.html

Visiting a hospital in a foreign country when you are ill can be a cause for concern. What may prove useful in communicating with a doctor here in Japan is "Nihongo de Care-Navi," an online tool that supports, among other things, Japanese-language training in the field of nursing and care taking.
Website: http://nihongodecarenavi.jp/en/index.html