Japan enjoys cherry blossom season despite COVID-19 worries

Tokyo Gov Yuriko Koike said the increase underscored “the spread of the BA.2 subvariant of omicron that is replacing the existing variant with significant speed.”

How long again until her term ends?

Wonderful sight. Happy and healthy cherry blossom viewing season to lovers of nature and culture.

triggering concerns of a possible virus resurgence.

I think they mean "triggering a fresh uptick in reported cases." The only ones obsessing about "fears", "concerns", "worries" are the ones who seem to be afraid of small pieces of cloth, and then project their own emotions onto the supposed "other side", lobbing out phrases like "lock yourself up" and "basements". Most people meanwhile keep track of the trends, take sensible and responsible precautions, and "get on with their lives".

ExtraPatMar. Can you see the ghost face between the two females, hovering just above them?

No. Can you see the tooth fairy in the background, squatting down next to its bicycle and having a ciggy break?

Ah I miss this so much. My relatives went to the country side where's there's less crowd to view the country side.

Best time of year in Japan. People need this. Enjoy.

Good to see the cherry blossoms bring some cheer and people taking off their masks.

OK to go with 10 friends to an Izakaya or bar and party as long as you want, but every park I know of is forbidding anyone to sit on a sheet under the cherry blossoms in the name of Covid prevention.

People are simply tired of this pandemic, maybe periodic jabs would follow boosters in 2023? Maybe, we now need something more effective than vaccination?

I wrote

EastmanToday  09:05 am JST

every normal person likes to see cherry blossoms,once again-every normal person...

-13( +3 / -16 )

16 people are disagree.what is wrong with you people?just wondering...

Must be your tone in implying that if someone doesn’t want to see cherry blossom they are abnormal.

Japan enjoys cherry blossom season despite COVID-19 worries

This heading gave me a good laugh. Nobody's worried. The second the "quasi-SoE" was lifted, everyone was out in full force. You can see evidence of this at congested train stations where passengers are rolling around luggage, restaurants that have their staff outside luring customers in, and people flocking to see the cherry blossoms in droves. Worry about the pandemic has long passed and the sooner J-government realizes this the better. People have been vaccinated and boosted. Let them live their lives and enjoy Hanami if they so wish.

I wrote

EastmanToday  09:05 am JST

every normal person likes to see cherry blossoms,once again-every normal person...

-13( +3 / -16 )

16 people are disagree.what is wrong with you people?just wondering...

Ah, the transitory nature of life.

It is so good to see maskless people out enjoying the beautiful blossoms.

People across Japan are celebrating the peak cherry blossom viewing season one week after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, triggering concerns of a possible virus resurgence.

Kind of surprised to see Japan let its guard down so soon; just last month returnees had to stay in hotels for 3 days.

“I feel like life has finally gotten back to normal. 

Just hit me. The thought that 'i wish for life to be back to normal" has never occurred to me.

This is life. This is normal.

Maybe there is something in the future that will make me utter that, but not this one.

I can't even say I've embraced the situation from the very beginning.

There was no embracing.

It's just we have a situation and what could be done to address it.

Maybe I'm just lucky, so far, but life is normal.

Ah, the annual cherry blossoms pictures and stories overkill. As much as I like the flowers, I can't wait for it to end. Baseball season starts next week and March Madness is still going on!

Hope they remember this when the next state -- or quasi-state, anyway -- of emergency comes into play mid to late April. Numbers for yesterday in Osaka were quadruple what they were a week ago, and Tokyo double. These selfish people seem to think that gathering in hordes to look at cherry blossoms is a cultural thing the virus should take into consideration. I had to remind an acquaintance whom I met at work yesterday, when he told me his wife and daughter tested positive and he would get tested tomorrow (today) and miss work, that perhaps the massive cherry-blossom party on the holiday weekend wasn't a good idea after all. I doubt he'll be a friend after that, but since I now have to get tested, if I can find a place, and can't work (at least not at the work place) until I get the result, I don't very well care -- stupid clowns.

Numbers are going to skyrocket thanks to all the selfishness.

Thats great, even better when you can have a picnic with your family without hordes of people passing by inches from your tent. There are just so many hidden gems in Tokyo area not too many people know because you can only go by train. Mizumoto and Gongendo parks are my favorites, not only for sakura, but during all 4 seasons

Can you see the ghost face between the two females, hovering just above them?

Nope, but I can see an Oyaji squatting in the background.

What worries? The semi-quazi-fuzzi situation was lifted, right?

Last night so many people out in Yokohama - restaurants mostly packed and even some drunken salary-man coming to the door after 11pm surprised last order was finished!

The restaurant I happened to be, the staff were unmasked, no open windows or good ventilation... Was lucky to get on the 2nd floor which was almost empty and non-smoking!

Passed by Naka-Meguro yesterday and it was crowded and bustling.

However except a few idiots everyone was masked.

This is the 3rd year of Cherry Blossom season in pandemic times so it is understandable people are going out in large numbers. But there is no excuse for not taking precautions, people are still getting infected and suffering as a result!

Don’t worry about Covid.

yes and no. If you have serious health conditions or are paranoid, simply, stay home. Watch it on television.

but if you love life, get out and enjoy the wonders of nature!

Now, more photographs of people with more smartphones than kimono. Everyone wants to capture their moment in time. Still, this modern activity adds interest to each composition.

So many beautiful and interesting photographs by MM Sasahara, Hoshiko and Sato.

every normal person likes to see cherry blossoms,once again-every normal person...

Let the politicians worry and have their concerns.

I’m living my life normally!

Don't understand taking pictures with the mask or perhaps most of them look pretty with the mask.

Can you see the ghost face between the two females, hovering just above them?

No but I can see some blue sky peaking through the blossoms.

There are 2 ghost faces in that photo.

I’m sick of looking at those trees period

Whatever the situation might be, life will always find a way to regain normalcy, be it pandemic, war, famine or whatever. These sakura have been blooming for hundreds or even thousands of years despite all what was happening around the world and will continue to do so. As for us humans, COVID is still here, but if we wait for it to end, the waiting will not end.

Had the third Booster Activation Power Shot! I'm now able to fly and view the Cherry Blossom Trees! Weeee!

Not worried at all. It’s outside and people need to get on with their lives.

Not so much travel related to Hanami but still wondering how the government will try to restrict golden week travel?

Can you see the ghost face between the two females, hovering just above them?

I'm enjoying it and not worried about covid at all. The nervous nellies can stay home if they're afraid.

Good on them for enjoying their lives!

Better than locking yourself away worrying over catching a cold!!!

Tokyo Gov Yuriko Koike said the increase underscored “the spread of the BA.2 subvariant of omicron that is replacing the existing variant with significant speed.”

COVID should be a serious concern and there should have been a lockdown.

But in this case I am more worried about my daily commute than being out with the cherry blossoms.