It only comes once a year

One of the Japanese customs you often hear about is going out to view cherry blossoms, which appear for a week or two every spring. I'd assumed that, like the viewing of autumn leaves in the fall, this part of "Japanese culture" belonged only to elderly women.

I was wrong. Middle-aged men in white-collar jobs are the biggest flower-viewing enthusiasts. Co-workers go out to a park after work, or on the weekend. They spread out a blue tarpaulin and get drunk and noisy together under the cherry trees.

This photo is from the elementary school near my house. It was early in the morning, so no one was around. I don't think anyone did typical flower-viewing there even in the evenings, but it's not impossible. Self-deception regarding the ubiquity of alcohol isn't as strong here as in America. Beer is sold in vending machines.