On the last weekend, April 17th, I visited the Japan mint at Temmabashi in Osaka to enjoy the annual spring event "Sakura no TOORINUKE"(Cherry Blossom viewing). Different from Japanese traditional event "ohanami," we cannot lazily appreciate sakura with eating and drinking there, but there is a special atmosphere only to see many varieties of sakura trees. First, I would like to mention about the event, and additionally, I refer to "yatai," small food shops, or ones for entertainment. In Japan, we find "yatai" not only at summer festivals but also at other events which invite lots of people. This time, I found many "yatai" as I expected.This year, the festival were held from April 14th to 20th at Japan mint. On the last weekend, the day I visited there, the full bloom of sakura trees were just recorded. Because of the abnormal weather at this spring, the best time to see sakura was later than the usual year. According to the information from here, the event started in Meiji period, lasting more than 125 years. We pass through the 560meters long sakura avenue for free. 120 varieties of approximate 350 sakura trees are grown now.
Although I have lived in Osaka-city for 21 years, I joined the festival for the first time, so I was very surprised that the great number of people visited there. In fact, the number of people who came to see sakura on a day was １３７，４６０(18p.m. on April 18th present). Moreover, I had never seen such many kinds of sakura trees till I went there. It was interesting that each sakura has unique official names such as kirin麒麟, youkihi楊貴妃, ranran蘭蘭, and every sakura tree was as different from each other as I could distinguish. You can check the data of sakura trees here.
"麒麟"
"gyoikou御衣黄"(http://www.mint.go.jp/sakura/torinuke/sakura_02.html) As the impression of the event, I felt that the way of enjoying sakura completely differ from "ohanami"'s. In the case of "ohanami", we simply aim to have the good time with our company surrounded by sakura trees. Therefore, I think we are allowed to freely eat and drink sitting on the ground. However, at the sakura viewing event, it looks like we are supposed to admire the grace of sakura itself. That is, there are no objects which pay attention to us except for sakura. I felt really refleshed after I went out the sakura street. Especially, for my eyes, the sakura was the feast.
This is the picture of "this years' sakura." Every year, a specific sort of sakura is introduced, so the sakura called miyakonishiki都錦 was chosen this year.
Second, I want to mention about "yatai" a bit. At the sakura festival, I saw a lot of "yatai." Basically, they appear in the place which many people gather at once. "Yatai" are very common for Japanese, and already well-known to outsiders of Japan too, so it seems that I need not dare to note it here. However, this time, I realized that the types of food sold at "yatai" have been changing compared to the past. For example, as the typical food sold at "yatai," frankfurt, yakisoba(fried noodle), and cotton candy are raised. Indeed, we can find "yatai" of them, but besides, I think the number of "yatai" which sells unique products have increased.
This photograph shows the one of the new types of "yatai," sasebo burger佐世保バーガー. Its origin is in the "Sasebo" in Nagasaki. I heard it is not like American hamburger but it emphasizes more Japanese like handmade style. In addition to this, I discovered the "yatai" which sold mentaiko(cod ovum), kabob sandwich, and gyoza(Chinese meat dumplings). I do not know how popular these shops are, but I think they can attract people just because of its unusualness. Anyway, it was interesting for me to notice closely that Japanese culture has been changing. Thinking back to my childhood, that is more obvious.
