Most Tokyo cherry blossoms that began opening in mid-month have already passed peak, but with chilly spells and rain lately, the flowers still bloom proudly without scattering. This weekend beautiful showers of petals may be seen everywhere, and hanami parties under cherry trees will be in full swing. At famous urban spots near Palaceside Building in Takebashi — Kitanomaru Park, Chidorigafuchi — you will likely see groups and families spreading sheets in the plazas, eating boxed lunches and sweets while enjoying the blossoms.
Abroad, it seems rare to drink, sing, or even dance while viewing flowers; enjoying cherry blossoms in festive commotion appears uniquely Japanese. Rakugo too has many hanami titles — "Longhouse Hanami," "Hanami Vendetta," "Hanami Sake" — showing hanami has long been one of the great pleasures of Japanese people. Everyone's face grows richer while hanami viewing.
The flower for hanami must be cherry blossom — not dandelion or rapeseed among flowers. Then why do cherry blossoms make us lighthearted and thirsty for sake? Some say the faint scent loosens sadness and anxiety, brightens and lifts the heart to happiness; others say pale pink excites people. But if scent and color alone did it, hanami feasts should appear wherever cherries grow worldwide — yet they do not.
One theory traces it to ancient Japan's "Sa-god faith" — something rooted deep in the Japanese heart, handed down to the present.
"Sa-god" refers to the "mountain deity" worshipped by ancient people more than 1,000 years ago, even before mythic times. Originally on the mountain, unreachable to people, but at rice-planting time descending to the village as "field deity," then returning to the mountain when done. The "sa" of Sa-god is key — May, rice-planting season, is called "Satsuki" (皐月) from this faith, marking the month of the Sa-god. And the "sa" of sakura (cherry) comes from this Sa-god; "kura" is the "seat of the god" — so cherry is the tree where the mountain deity dwells. Under it they offered sake and fish (sakana), received the deity's "sagari" (descent), feasted, drank and sang uproariously — so the story goes.
Hearing that, Japanese hanami feasts under cherry trees do seem to have plenty of "sa" in them, don't they?