Yayoi—March. After the official Somei Yoshino cherry-blossom declaration on the 24th, central Tokyo enjoyed fine weather on the 25th, with temperatures topping 24°C—like early summer. Graduation ceremonies have continued at Nippon Budokan in Kitanomaru Park since last week, and on the 25th young women in brightly colored hakama were conspicuous at the Palaceside Building.

Universities that cannot accommodate all students on campus rent the Budokan for their ceremonies. Since last week the sequence has included Tokyo Denki University, Tokyo University of Science, Teikyo University, Senshu University, Toyo University, and Hosei University; on the 25th it was Nihon University, Japan’s largest. According to the university, the ceremony was held in two sessions, morning and afternoon.