Hanami — picnics under falling petals

For about two weeks each spring, Japan turns pink. Cherry trees (sakura) bloom in waves from the warm south to the cold north, and the whole country follows the "blossom front" on the news like we follow football scores. Hanami — literally "flower viewing" — means claiming a spot under the trees with friends, family, or coworkers, spreading a blue tarp, and sharing food and laughter while petals drift down like snow. Parks fill from morning; the best spots are reserved hours ahead. The beauty is the point, but so is its shortness: sakura bloom hard and fall within days. That bittersweet feeling — loving something because it won't last — is a little at the heart of Japanese culture.