Learn Japanese and about Japanese culture with JapanesePod101.com. Today is part II of flower viewing, as we talk about cherry blossoms and how to “view” them. Chigusa joins us in the studio to tell us about cherry blossom viewing in Japan.
This entry was posted on Saturday, April 15th, 2006 at 11:07 am and is filed under Japanese Culture Classes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
37 Responses to “Japanese Culture Class #14 - Cherry Blossoms (Hanami #2)”
JapanesePod101.com says:
April 15th, 2006 at 11:12 am
皆さん、hope everyone is having a great weekend wherever you are! 
Last week the cherry blossoms in Tokyo were truly something to behold. Hope everyone had the time to enjoy them.
よろしくおねがいします。
Orlina says:
April 15th, 2006 at 11:22 am
I’ve enjoy them from Paris 
Well I saw only one cherry tree, next to where I leave, but it was really awesome!
Have a good week-end Mina-san 
Hope the last day of mine will be better 
Peter says:
April 15th, 2006 at 11:22 am
Chigusa! Thank you for all the energy you bring to the studio! Hope everyone had a great flower viewing season whenever you are. We received emails from San Fran and Washington D.C. about a great flower viewing season. We’d love to hear what’s going on in your country!
Peter says:
April 15th, 2006 at 11:23 am
Orlina-san, must have just missed you! I am sure it will!! Have a great Sunday!よい日曜日を
Sindy says:
April 15th, 2006 at 1:29 pm
I love Cherry Blossoms too bad I couldn’t enjoy watching them because here in New York there aren’t any trees with Cherry Blossom ! but I heard that in Washington D.C and San Francisco have a great view there Good for them but I think the best view is to see them live at Japan so I hope some day I can go and have my own experience!!! 
S_R_C
Sara says:
April 15th, 2006 at 1:38 pm
This moved me to start a new painting! I’ll get going on it right away. It’s a warm day, finally, here in Michigan so I think I’ll go outside and do a watercolor of some cherry blossoms.
Thanks for the inspiration guys!
Orlina says:
April 15th, 2006 at 3:08 pm
Sindy-san you’re right, in DC they have a lot of it.
My sister sent me a few photo of it. I’m so jealous 
Sara-san i’m envious, even when i try hard, I can’t draw, or paint Cherry blossom correctly…
Even if I could, lately i’ve only been drawing snakes and crows
I’ve heard they are symbols of life and fidelity whereas in occident they are associated with death and sin…
Is that right?
In fact, Peter-san, shame on me, I’ve just asked my mother, and not only have I a few cherry blossom near the place where i live, There is one just in front of my flat (well, shame on me, i never paid it much attention…When i leave the house it’s almost always with a book and all my attention is focus on it)
Is it only me, or am I really weird?
Once again Good day everyone, i’m going to bed
Shinichi says:
April 15th, 2006 at 4:42 pm
Chigusa, Peter, great show, too bad that it’s the last show for two weeks, but it will give me time to catch up on all the podcasts I missed.
I wish I could have been there for the blossoms.
I live here in southern california, my sister just bought a new house and she had this bare plum tree in her front yard, the day she moved in the tree bloomed into beautiful plum blossoms, it must be good luck…
anyhow, I enjoyed today’s podcast, ja mata
GreatDane says:
April 16th, 2006 at 12:30 am
Peter wrote:
> We’d love to hear what’s going on in your country!
Well, here in Australia it is autumn. So not much to see, but some camelias are starting to bud.
Cheers,
Peter (The Oz one)
Liz says:
April 16th, 2006 at 3:53 am
Ah…..like the cherry blossoms, which fade away, our beloved podcast fades away for a week (or, is it two weeks?? Peter-san, you have me confused!!)…………………I loved the show. Who wouldn’t want to be in Japan for hanami!!!
Daniel Beck says:
April 16th, 2006 at 4:41 am
Gonna have withdrawel symptoms tomorrow morning. Will have my coffee fix, but no JP fix.
I agree with Liz. Peter, that was confusing. “In two weeks” means 14 days later (give or take).
What happened to my idea about the Nagasaki Connection doing an impromptu show? Hmm…will have to check in the morning. 
Hugo says:
April 16th, 2006 at 5:24 am
Greetings to everybody, in Argentina is autumn to but some plants gets flowers in this moment (I don´t now their names).
As always, great show! But… guys, Peter-san… Two weeks without JP show Well, two weeks isn´t much time
To Jason:
“Somewhat related: you should try reading the Bible in Japanese (聖書/せいしょ). 
Though I realize there’s a lot of beginners here, I very very strongly discourage anyone to become dependent on rouma-ji. Try to resist the urge to use it even though it’ll be much easier and faster to read at first. ”
About the romaji use I agree with you 100%, I always try to use romaji at minimun. Thanks, fot the advises!
Well, I must return to books… 
Good day to everybody!
Orlina says:
April 16th, 2006 at 5:47 am
I use romanji because I’m still trying to learn the katakana, but well I also have school and a lot of other things on my mind, so it take me time!
-_-’
I can’t wait to be on holidays (well I’m on holidays but with so much works that I can’t wait to be back to school -_-’) in order to really focus on my japanese and english!
How do we say ‘holidays’ in japanese? I would love to say that I Really hate them 
Helen says:
April 16th, 2006 at 6:11 am
Nice show - I was looking at cherry blossoms while I listened to it I have a huge cherry tree outside my bedroom window here (at my parents’ house) so I picked a good time to come and visit. Hopefully I’ll be able to see it when I go to Japan, but that’s probably not going to be for two more years!
I’ll miss the show… but at least it will give me a chance to catch up more on the old ones
Peter says:
April 16th, 2006 at 8:31 am
Joey-san, happy Easter!
Helen-san, wow, right outside the house!! Where is that?? Lucky you. Must be really nice. Have a picture by any chance?
Orlina-san, tough question, as there are many ways to say this in Japanese. 休み・やすみ・yasumi is good bet. There is also:
休日・きゅうじつ、祝日・しゅくじつ、制度上・せいど じょう・の休暇・きゅうか・、休業日・きゅうぎょう び
but the meanings vary slightly. What sentence would you like to construct?
Also, did the trees near your house bloom yet?
Hugo-san, thanks for the post! Wow, Argentina! Can’t wait to visit! It has to be beautiful! Any pictures??
Daniel-san, the next JCC is in two weeks. But yes, we will be back next Monday. Also, feel free to post at will! We’ll be answering.
Liz-san, sorry to trip you up. We’ll be back in one week, but it will be 2 until the next JCC. Apologies for the confunsion.
Peter-san, what a great name! Thanks for the update! Please keep the info from Australia coming!
Shinichi-san, that has to be good luck! Plum blossom are quite beautiful too! Did you catch our first JCC on hanami with the plum blossoms??
Sara-san, wow! Thanks for sharing that with us. Can we get a picture when you’re done??
Sindy-san, check this out! Don’t know if it helps, but…
http://brooklyn.about.com/cs/familyfun/a/cherryblossom.htm
maybe they’ll have it again this year!! It did say annual!
If they do, pictures please!
Nick Rhodes says:
April 16th, 2006 at 8:41 am
Hi everyone,
no cherry trees near me. tried viewing Cherry Blossom shoe polish but that didn’t seem to work as a substitute, however it being Easter Sunday here in the UK I’ve assuaged my feelings of dissapointment with copious consumption of chocolate eggs.
as always listening to you chaps was a real pleasure.
ta ra
Nick
Orlina says:
April 16th, 2006 at 8:50 am
Peter-san, I think I’m the only one in this community who can’t read neither katakana nor hiragana nor kanji -_-’
So… 
I just wanna say ‘I hate the holidays!’ (it’s because I’m used to write something on my notebook each holidays to summarize them…But well I always write the same think in many language, It’s japanese’s turn )
And, yes Peter-san they had!
I’ve always prefered Autumn with its leafless trees^^, but well Spring is not that bad after all 
Peter says:
April 16th, 2006 at 8:56 am
Nick-san, must have just missed you! Chocolate eggs!! Thanks for tuning in! Have a great holiday!
Orlina-san, we’re working on something that should help.
Holidays, yes, I remember having the same sentiment! However, it was only after I left home, that I came to miss the holidays so much! Now every holiday I would give so much just to be hanging around the house, listening to the same stories, enjoying everyones company. We’re all in such a rush to get out there, and once we are, we want to go home! Did that make sense??
Orlina says:
April 16th, 2006 at 9:22 am
I don’t know, but spending the holiday locked in the house when I would love to spend the day sitting on a bunch in a park, writing or drawing.
It’s like one of my teacher says ‘ Les littéraires ont besoin d’air!’ (those who love art and literature need air, they need space too)
But I gess you’re right, and i’ll probably miss it one day…
I think I hate this years’s holidays even more, because I miss my philosophy’s teacher (He is mean with almost every students exept the best ones …it’s so funny.)
*2 minutes later*
And I’ve found a link, it’s so cute!
We all remember Hatsumi and Sakura’s singing…right?
This is the song sings by children^^
Orlina says:
April 16th, 2006 at 10:30 am
Ooooooooooo even cuter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHGTujhRd-g&search=hinamatsuri
Sakura was right, they learn it really young…
Jason says:
April 16th, 2006 at 2:17 pm
The long week begins.
We’ll have cyborg Takase?
Let’s pray for Peter.
Jay-R says:
April 17th, 2006 at 6:38 pm
Hello all,
I dont post much but i wanted to say that San Francisco host a Cerry Blossom Festival every year. I was there just last weekend and it was pretty fun. The festival will still be going on next week if anyones wants to check it out.
Nathan says:
April 17th, 2006 at 10:10 pm
Jason-san,
If our normal Takase-san is too fast for the police, imagine what cyborg Takase-san will be like
Jay-R-san,
Thanks for the info
Jason says:
April 18th, 2006 at 4:58 am
If our normal Takase-san is too fast for the police, imagine what cyborg Takase-san will be like
No wallet in Japan…no, in the *world* will be safe.
Sal says:
April 20th, 2006 at 10:51 am
re: Cherry Blossom viewing in the Big Apple
Sindy -
Check out the Sakura Matsuri at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.
Last weekend of April this year.
Go with my wife and kids almost every year. Always a good time.
Beach says:
April 21st, 2006 at 2:35 am
Listening to this podcast reminded me of doing hanami when I was in Japan a few years ago. It was lots of fun, but indeed, quite crowded. Fortunately, my friends didn’t make me have to find the spot.
BTW This is my first post, but I’ve been listening to you guys for about a month now. It’s totally awesome what you guys are doing here, please keep up the good work!
Patrick says:
April 24th, 2006 at 7:18 am
Hi,
First time here. Your podcasts have been useful. Also, your RSS is working fine. Been receving them since 23-Apr-2006 again. All the best to the new site. will miss the old site which has the free handouts.
pl (Shi-ng-ka-po-ru-ji-ng desu)
Michelle says:
October 21st, 2006 at 6:06 am
Seattle is another good US city for hanami. Japan gave Seattle a thousand cherry trees back in the 70s and there are areas of them all over the city. My favorite spot is the Quad at the University of Washington. Cherry blossoms surrounded by 19th century architecture. Totemo sugoi. There’s also the Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival every April at Seattle Center.
June 1st, 2007 at 5:56 am
bill bush immigration president…
ka-ka-sh-ka 3455884 Modern view of bill bush immigration president….
Arekusandaa-san says:
June 14th, 2008 at 3:30 am
michelle-dono, yeah, Seattle’s really good for hanami. especially when it’s hanfubuki. there’s also a sakura hanami festival in Richmond, BC, Canada in around mid march - april. and it’s really nice.
khanh san says:
June 29th, 2008 at 1:09 am
When accessing this web, I feel enjoy and attracted by many useful and interesting lessons. and this lesson is one of them.Thanks for your section lead me to a wonderful word: abarashi Nihongo sekai!Doumoarigatogozaimashita! 
Mayumi says:
June 30th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
khanh san-san,
Arigatougozaimasu!! 
Keep enjoying our lessons!
SOMNATH says:
October 17th, 2008 at 3:39 am
Well I don’t know how to pen down my feelings in words about “Sakura” after listening Chigusa. Peter I felt as if I was present there in that park with you and Chigusa on 15th April, 2006 and you had been conducting this amazing excursion for me with Chigusa acting as ‘guide’ and we had been doing “Sakura” whole day and whole night!.
Doumo Arigatou Gozaimashita!
Mayumi says:
October 21st, 2008 at 9:50 am
SOMNATH-san,
It’ really great to hear that!! Arigatou gozaimasu!!
Leave a Reply
Subscription Information
Course Information
Technical Information
Feature List
Video Guides
Privacy Statement
Category: Japanese Culture Classes |
Topic: hanami
Share This