Posted in Japan on Feb 19th, 2008
Since writing a few updates on this years Cherry Blossom Forecast and Cherry Blossom Viewing i’ve had several requests from people asking for high quality and close up images so they can refer to them when they get a Cherry Blossom Tattoo.
I had never realised the popularity of a Cherry Blossom Tattoo a few weeks ago, but from what i can see they’re an ever increasing design for specifically ladies wanting a tattoo, i guess the popularity Pegasus had 20 yrs ago has wained somewhat. I’ve managed to dig up a few CC images from around the place and will make a special effort over the next few weeks to take some close ups images and make available to anyone wanting them.
Disclaimer: i’m not even positive all images below are Cherry Blossoms so before you get your Cherry Blossom Tattoo please confirm with an expert!
Cherry Blossom Tattoos - What Do They Mean
Cherry Blossom Tattoos are some of the most popular tattoo designs for women currently. The beauty and delicate nature of a cherry blossom can’t be denied.
In both Japanese and Chinese cultures the cherry blossom is full of symbolic meaning and significance. Before deciding to get a cherry blossom tattoo design it makes sense to understand the symbolism and deep cultural connections and meaning that this tattoo might hold. After all the best tattoo designs are ones that hold a great deal of symbolic significance.
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Posted in Japan on Feb 18th, 2008
Cherry Blossom Forecast Updated 18th of March.
It’s a little over 4 weeks away and cheers to Evan for reminding me that this years Cherry Blossom Forecast - Sakura Zensen (さくら ぜんせん) has been published for all too see.
If all things go according to plan we should have Cherry Blossom’s in Tokyo the last week of March and first week of April.
Sakura or Cherry Blossom (Japanese kanji and Chinese character: 桜 or 櫻; katakana: サクラ; hiragana: さくら) is the Japanese name for ornamental cherry trees, Prunus serrulata, and their blossoms. Cherry fruit (known as sakuranbo) comes from a different species of tree. Sakura is also a given name.
Current Cherry Blossom Forecast as of the 18th of March
Current Cherry Blossom Forecast as of the 4th of March
Current Cherry Blossom Forecast as of the 26th of February
Current Cherry Blossom Forecast as of the 20th of February
I recently posted a pic from last years Cherry Blossom Season but here’s a few more to get in the mood. The first is from last years Hanami party with Friends.
Hanami (花見, Hanami lit. “flower viewing”) is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers, “flower” in this case almost always meaning cherry blossoms (桜 or 櫻, sakura?), or ume blossoms (梅, ume?). In modern-day Japan, hanami mostly consists of having an outdoor party beneath the sakura during daytime or at night. Hanami at night is called yozakura (lit. “night sakura”). In many places such as Ueno Park temporary paper lanterns are hung for the purpose of yozakura.
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Posted in JR Yamanote Line on Feb 17th, 2008
Anyone spending even the smallest amount of time in Tokyo would know the rail system here is extensive to say the least. For me, living in Yoyogi, the JR Yamanote Line, is the easiest and the line i use most when getting out and about on the weekends. I haven’t fallen asleep on the train for quite a while but if you were to fall asleep and miss your station this is the one to do it on, it’s a continuous loop.
The Yamanote Line (山手線, Yamanote-sen) of East Japan Railway Company (JR East) is one of Tokyo’s busiest and most important commuter lines. Running as a circle, it connects most of Tokyo’s major stations and urban centres including the Yūrakuchō area, Shibuya, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro with all but two of its 29 stations connecting with other railway or underground (subway) lines.
Having said it’s my most frequently used i neglected to say it’s the same places visited each time, Shibuya, Harajuku and occasionally Akihabara. So in an effort to see more of the 29 suburbs the live services i’ve decided to visit each one over the course of the next 12 months, hopefully 1 each weekend.
I had originally thought of doing it in a clockwise direction however i’ve re jigged my plan t do it alphabetically …. so the first cab off the rank is Akihabara.
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Posted in Photo Hunt on Feb 17th, 2008
This weeks theme in The Photo Hunt is Free or Muriyou (むりょう) in Japanese.
In the absense of any other photos i pulled this one from a recent post on Harajuku Bridge …. it needs no explaining.
Popularity: 10% [?]
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Posted in Japan on Feb 14th, 2008
Today is Valentines Day as i know it but in Japan it’s better know for the custom of Giri Choco.
Giri choco (義理チョコ), literally, “obligation chocolate” in Japanese. Giri choco is chocolate given on Valentine’s day to someone whom the giver has no romantic feelings for. This is often given to co-workers, casual acquaintances, Friends etc. This is generally reciprocated on White day.
The custom of Giri Choco is big in Japan, and i mean big. Many companies spend their whole years marketing budget on the promotion of Giri Choco and are rewarded with most of their years profits coming in the week prior to the 14th of February.
According to the Chocolate & Cocoa Association of Japan, of the 406 billion yen in annual sales of chocolate in 2006, approximately 53% was spent during the month leading up to Feb 14. Some confectionery companies spend the bulk of their yearly marketing budget on Valentine’s Day.
Last night on route to dinner i went past an endless number of shops displaying their wares, not always just in the form of traditional chocolate, in hope of a few last minute sales.
Popularity: 15% [?]
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