JAPAN: Cherry blossom celebrations in the cemetery

During the day, people solemnly offer prayers to their ancestors at the Aoyama Cemetery in central Tokyo, bowing before tombstones and serving flowers and incense. Visiting the spirits of their ancestors resting in peace is one Japanese spring tradition. But an equally important tradition in Japan come spring time is "hanami," or cherry blossom-viewing, during which thousands gather under the "sakura" cherry blossoms to enjoy the flowers while picnicking outside and drink. The parties have been held wherever the cherry blossoms were found, including the Aoyama Cemetery. Office workers began gathering in the evening after work at this oldest public cemetery in Japan, which is lined with beautiful cherry trees, making it one of the major cherry blossom-viewing spots in Tokyo. In this season, toasting "kampai," or cheers, in the famous resting place isn't seen as impolite. "I think it's nice to get our ancestors and dead people all involved when we party," said Ami Fujita, a nightclub hostess who was viewing "sakura" cherry blossoms at night with her colleagues over a cocktail and eating stew cooked from a portable stove. Yasuharu Tsutsumi, a restaurant manager, admitted that the party venue was a little spooky, but was still grateful to be there. "It's a blessing to be able to view cherry blossoms at a sacred place like this," Tsutsumi said. Until a few years ago, local authorities used to close the cherry tree-filled pathways to traffic so cherry blossom-viewers here could party more freely and safely; but after the garbage and noise started posing problems, the pathways were reopened to traffic, drastically reducing the number of people who would party in this graveyard. Despite that, some still continue partying until the wee hours by the tombstones -- not loud enough to wake the dead, but certainly without fear of them either.

ITN Source | April 6, 2007

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