104 taken to hospital for acute alcohol intoxication during Tokyo 'hanami' season

well... YOLO.

More importantly, hope the parks didnt get polluted with garbage much.

How sad. How can you enjoy hanami when you are almost killing yourself with alcohol".

"Acute alcohol intoxication" - I love it. Nice euphemism for totally hammered and hung over.

Dirty Harry said, "A good man knows his limitations."

No problem with heavy drinking, in fact it should be encouraged but as other posters said, know your limits.

Binge drinking is frowned upon in other countries, but it's part of the culture in Japan. You have to love that!

I'd like to see a graph covering the last 50 years.

Of the total, 40 were men and women in their 20s, 17 were in their 30s and 15 in their 70s.

What about the 40s 50s and 60s?

I'm sure none of you have ever had a couple more than originally planned, right? Glass houses.

One of the things that struck me, during my first hanami booze-up in Osaka, was that there were actually ambulances on standby right next to the cherry trees.

Anyone treated for an alcohol related incident should have to pay the medical bill in full…no insurance cover.

Why should I and others pay into a system that excuses irresponsible behavior ?

Of the total, 40 were men and women in their 20s,

Young people apparently don't know the way of drinking especially in hanami. Binge drinking appears to be kinda going through a rite of passage in Japan. But it's very dangerous in a way, and you have to know your own limitations. Kanpai!

What about the 40s 50s and 60s?

Sweet spot: young enough to have the stamina to somehow stagger home and experienced enough to ensure you imbibe in a way you can do so.

Pfft, sounds like an average weekday evening in my beloved hometown, London

What about the 40s 50s and 60s?

They weren't able to attend the parties... they were busy doing "overtime" at the office...

You'd think those in their 70s would have learned by now!

Glad I missed it, this year, although it sure was a lot of fun last year. I think it will be much less crowded and more relaxing for the next six weeks as I visit Kyushu, Shikoku and points in-between.

Make a fun time better but no mess for the rest.

How pathetically sad. People cannot appreciate the beauty of the cherry blossoms without obliterating themselves with booze. Nobody learns anything, ever.

When they party, they PARTY!

Just puke it out and stand tall.

When walking past those parties, you constantly hear the word ikki,ikki,ikki

I'm sure none of you have ever had a couple more than originally planned, right? Glass houses.

Acute alcohol intoxication means alcohol poisoning, which is potentially fatal.

All these thumbs down for responsible drinking make me sad. What is the point of drinking until you almost die?