All the world seems to be arriving to celebrate hana mimas, or blossoms we watch, hanami, speaking every language. the plums have been out most of the week and an occasional early blooming cherry, but today they started to pop, along with sunshine and all the people. What an spectacle it is, with folks standing in line to ring the Shinto bells, stalls of octopus or fried dumplings or egg or noodles on hot griddles, red covered low table-benches, everyone with cameras snapping girls in kimonos or each other or close-ups of cascading blossoms, and glorious sunshine after several cool days.
