_hanami
It was a clear day; Mt. Fuji’s snow-capped cinder cone drifted by as the bullet train hurtled from Osaka to Tokyo. I was soon departing to NY. Craig Armstrong's new album, "Sun on You", played on my headphones as I stared blankly out the window. I was reflecting on my journey here in Japan amongst the cherry blossoms and, more specifically, the people I had met. From the head-monk of a temple where I stayed in the mountains to my steam with a Yakuza gangster- fully-tattooed with the missing pinkie finger- I was greeted with laughter, warmth and a unique wisdom. Theirs is a culture of friendliness, respect, reverence, ritual, precision, art and ceremony.
The Japanese even have a word for the seasonal viewing of the island's flora- "Hanami." The ritualistic custom reminds them about the beauty but impermanence of life. This time of year, it is the cherry blossom, sakura in Japanese, that they honor. The young and old alike turn out to party, picnic and wander beneath the brilliant pink and white blooms. Through my lens I, too, was a participant and felt humbled to have spent a couple of weeks watching the raining pink petals.
People view the cherry blossoms at Kyoto Gyoen in Kyoto, Japan on March 31, 2019.
Cherry blossoms in Ueno Onshi Park, Tokyo, Japan on March 27, 2019.
People stroll along the Kamo River in Kyoto, Japan on April 1, 2019.
People party amongst the cherry blossoms in Maruyama Koen in Kyoto, Japan on March 31, 2019.
Cherry blossoms and cemetery near Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in Kyoto, Japan on April 1, 2019.
Women in traditional dress pose amongst the cherry blossoms at Senso Ji temple, Tokyo, Japan on March 28, 2019.
Businessmen gather for a party amongst the cherry blossoms at the gardens of Chidorigafuchi in Tokyo, Japan on March 26, 2019.
People walk amongst the cherry blossoms in Yanaka Cemetery, Tokyo, Japan on March 27, 2019.
Boaters on the lake at Ueno Onshi Park in Tokyo, Japan on March 27, 2019.
People look at the cherry blossoms in Shinjuku Gyoen Park, Tokyo, Japan on March 25, 2019.
A woman cleanses herself at Senso Ji temple, Tokyo, Japan on March 28, 2019.
Cherry blossoms at Renge-in monastery in Koyasan, Japan on April 2 2019.
A bridal couple walk amongst the cherry blossoms at Philosopher's Path in Kyoto, Japan on March 31, 2019.
A couple by the Takase River in Kyoto, Japan on April 1, 2019.
Pedestrians walk on wet cobblestones near Yasaka Pagoda, Kyoto, Japan on March 30, 2019.
Cherry blossoms in Shinjuku Gyoen Park, Tokyo, Japan on March 25, 2019.