Let's Have Hanami, Social Distance Style by jyokota

Let's Have Hanami, Social Distance Style

It's the season for a major activity in Japanese life: Hanami, or "flower viewing" that is a cultural event marking the arrival of spring. Typically under cherry trees, family, friends, and colleagues gather to eat and drink and socialize. This year, Japan had to cancel its hanami festivities.

Inspired by the flowers I rescued after the squirrel trampled them down and even chewed on the stems a bit (or was it the rabbit?) I put them in a glass and suddenly, I had a pseudo-sakura-tree! @Domenicododaro called this morning, and we made plans for me to get coaching from him on cooking with his cookbook so he joined @cjphoto and me in this socially-distanced hanami event. CJ is coaching me on taking photos, and remarking that you need a wide angle for getting the whole tree in, but I'm focused on getting some macro closeups. Note: Good thing I've always had face masks because of my allergies and asthma! So useful these days. @taffy remember the day I called you to come to the Lego Store to buy this mask-face?

By next hanami season, I will have acquired some appropriate Japanese Hanami-foods in miniature sizes when I visit some 100 yen shops with @vankrey and @kojozi4161 because pretzels, while delicious, just aren't what we eat at such Japanese events.
The wee man looks as if he just might juggle those pretzels!
April 13th, 2020  
Oh for those happier times again. Sigh. Lovely photo Junko.
April 13th, 2020  
Too funny. Complete with soft pretzels...reminds me of nursing school taking a train home from Grand Central Station...I had to have a pretzel
April 13th, 2020  
Perfectly funny
April 13th, 2020  
@cjphoto
@domenicododaro
@taffy
@vankrey
@kozoji4161
Thanks for giving me a story for today.
April 13th, 2020  
Great storytelling and a very fine (and funny) image! The flowers actually are quite beautiful!
April 13th, 2020  
so nice, love the colours, and the details. great image
April 13th, 2020  
A wonderful shot and great story telling. Love your little photographer with mask. I have so many wonderful memories of Hanami that your story all brings back to mind. Such a happy time :-)
April 13th, 2020  
very entertaining! i have long wanted to witness this
April 13th, 2020  
Oh My!! What a great story to go with this beautiful scene!! CJ is a grest tutor for Lego shots,

thank you for a laugh before I get out of bed!! ( bank holiday so staying in as a lazy treat!!)
April 13th, 2020  
Great image and story to go with it
April 13th, 2020  
cute !
April 13th, 2020  
What a wonderful narrative! I really love learning about everyone’s traditions on 365. Hanami sounds like a beautiful thing to do. Your LEGO masked photographer! 😊
April 13th, 2020  
A lovely narrative and story telling image Junko. The hyacinths make perfect miniature cherry trees. Visiting Japan during cheery blossom time is well and truly on my bucket list :)
April 13th, 2020  
hahaha, lovely! I miss a beard, but I look forward to selling some real special-for-hanami Japanese food! @cjphoto be careful, the competition is open!
April 13th, 2020  
Love the flowers here! Gorgeous!
April 13th, 2020  
What a fabulous idea to celebrate the season in miniature style like this. What a shame that the real thing will be missed.
April 13th, 2020  
Very clever
April 13th, 2020  
Hahaha so very funny!!! They're practicing some awesome social distancing, the face mask came in handy! And the flowers in the foreground AND background are so gorgeous. I see why they couldn't resist the shot. A beautiful and creative way to enjoy the cherry blossoms. FAV!!
April 14th, 2020  
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