I have arrived safely in Japan. We are almost settled in to our wonderful condo. Her family decided to celebrate my moving to Japan by staying at a ryokan in Iwakuni next to Kintai Bridge in Iwakuni.
We arrive just in time to see the cherry blossoms before a big rains came in. The cherry blossoms are very light and fragile. With on drop of rain, they will fall off the tree.
My experience with the cherry blossom is probably like few others:
As the rain started to pour town, we ran toward the bridge to get back to the hotel. Breathing heavily, I suddenly started choking. A cherry blossom had been knocked loose and carried down by a rain drop and straight to my throat. I had to stop in the middle of the downpour to hack and cough until the blossom leaf came back out.
I guess that's just one more thing to add to the story...
Anyway, it's been a great welcome for me and I hope to explore more areas while I'm here.
Cherry blossoms (sakura) are an important traditional symbol to many Japanese. Every year people will gather to have picnics under the trees and a celebration of new life.
That works well for me.