Hanami お花見❀ with a twinge of sadness ...

Every year this time around is supposed to be a "welcoming" happy season in Japan.

Sakura❀ in full bloom...

new school term...

new graduates with new jobs ...

Normally people are looking forward to start a new beginning in Spring.

However, this year it feels different ...

The tragedy caused by the quake&tsunami

(Mar.11, 2011)

blankets Japan

with grief. But, people still do hanami though ... in a more quiet way.

※hanami→picnic under the cherry blossom

The park near my place -which is famous for hanami- was crowded with people eager to do hanami. So relief to see the park filled with people, compared to the quiet scene I saw last month when sneaking into the temporarily-prohibited park due to the cracked-alley from the quake.

There was a signboard stating that due to the quake, the Sakura Matsuri (festival) was suspended.

Throughout Japan, people are encouraged to do "ji-shuku" (self-restraint) ...

Many Sakura Matsuri were cancelled, so this year there isn't any single food stalls or night stands in the hanami area.

Sakura in full bloom is really lovely.

Too bad, it only lasts for about 10 days .. such short-lived, but because of that, much loved.

Supermarket also decorates some corners with posters on populer hanami places, complete with the snacks and sweets to bring to hanami.

I couldn't resist myself to one of those o-dango (sweet rice-cake shaped like a ball, put in a stick just like satay).

I bought the Sakura-dango, whose color is pinkish just like Sakura.

Hmm... feel a bit guilty to indulge in sweets, but no way i can get this limited-edition o-dango once the hanami season is over!