Park place

Any rowdiness this year?

So much for Ishihara's plea for people to refrain from having hanami parties. It doesn't look like anybody listened to him.

Looks like lots ignored Isehara when he asked people to voluntarily refrain this year, .

Not only did these people ignore Ishihara's request for refrain but they also voted him back into office.

Will be in Tokyo in May, but wishing I were sitting under those cherry blossoms at this moment.

Beautiful! I don't see anyone drinking alcohol in this photo.

Very orderly, slightly sombre hanami it seems - maybe these Tokyo folks did follow Ishihara-san's order? As foxie said, where is the grog? Seems weird...

@ Foxie : Yes, I noticed that at my hanami party place, too. Picnicing, enjoying the sakura, fine- but alcohol induced raucousness, not so much...

Ishihara won re-election because everyone was out having a great time under the trees instead of voting, hahaha!

Beautiful! I don't see anyone drinking alcohol in this photo.

That's because it is Shinjuku-gyoen. No alcohol allowed.

I don't see anyone drinking alcohol in this photo.

They were checking bags for alcohol at the entrance of the Park.

I like the new blue-green tarps. The old blue ones they used to have were an eye sore.

We did it up right where we had ours, bbq, hot sake, tons of beer. Can't imagine ohanami without booze.

RobertCB -- well good for you. I'm sure all the folks still in shelters, who can't even get a decent meal, are happy that you "did it up right". Good gosh man, ignore the sense of self-restraint that most folks here are demonstrating if you choose, but don't brag about it. You make those of us who are trying to demonstrate that we "get it" look bad.

lol, actually the leaders of the towns up north were on TV the other day saying that they thought the various cancelations were deterental and scolded the government for suggesting it. They can't wait to they can celebrate their summer festivals, they said it was the best way to give their people a common spirit and desire to fight on.

Most people aren't showing any self-restraint, place was packed and everybody was drinking and laughing and having a good time.

Enjoy it while you can. Sleepless in Sendai.

Meguro river was lovely. And plenty of drunkenness.

Central Park in Nagoya was mobbed yesterday. Today Meijo Koen near my office was mobbed as well. Personally, I am glad to see little ones playing, couples together, and families enjoying life.

I feel the lesson from the quake and tsunami is to enjoy life while one can with the people they love. I can say, my wife and I have become much closer. Life gives many lessons to learn and we all have different of reacting. I respect those abstaining this year just as much as those who do enjoy hanami.

This picture made my heart warm, thanks JT.

Life is short. Enjoy it while you can. That's the lesson of the quake and the sakura themselves.

the front-ground's colors and people make the picture like a watercolor-painting. Tokyo's life is still active and functional. Glad to see this family-like scene, Thanks.

Ah, that's Japan that we all love!

I'm glad they were out enjoying themselves and the blossoms! Looks quite serious for a Hanami party - but it is a workday and day-time! And there is (supposedly) a beer crisis right now...

"Enjoy it while you can"

Sorry, not this year. Not with all the suffering going on a few hours' drive from here.

I took a stroll through Shinjuku Gyoen on Sunday afternoon - I was happy to disover several groups had cleverly hid their spirits in large cartons originally holding tea or grapefruit juice! Ishihara's little uniformed eunuchs trolled around the grounds trying to make sure no one was too happy. The blossoms are spectacular this year - but there were so many people it was hard to enjoy them.

I can't see anything wrong with a hanami party right now. People need some relief. As far as Ishihara's minions are concerned, maybe they should either join the party or the cleanup. Hanami parties I've been to are mostly harmless. At least the weather is better!

seems like most of them are guys , what happened to the ladies ?

Suffer what there is to suffer . . . enjoy what there is to enjoy . ..regard both suffering and joy as facts of life . . . so the picture above mostly depicted that idea . . . not bad for those people to enjoy !!!