sakura forecast

even the frog's eyes
can't turn away...
cherry blossoms!
haiku by Issa, 1805

in between allergy sneezing salvos, lately the word sakura has been heard regularly around aichan's bar. with almost magical effects - allergy masks are put aside, moisty eyes widen, irritated faces lighten up, spring memories are shared, party plans are made. no measures are too modest for sakura worship. the other day, a suited guy invited me with a voodoo like performance to one of the upcoming under-the-blossom parties - standing up from his barstool, eyes to the sky, arms up like branches, shaking his stretched out fingers like unfurling cherry blossoms. in any case the enthousiasm is contagious - hope my first sakura season will live up to the expectations...



stay tuned with weekly updates from the 2005 sakura front at japan meteorological agency. and look, some early blossoms hovering over my siesta spot in a daikanyama park. definitely not cherry, maybe plum?

[elders]