Tsutsuji, azalea in English is blooming all around my town. There are many kinds that have wide range of size of flowers and leaves as well as the color of flowers. Like cherry blossom, these different kinds of tsutsuji bloom at specific time of the year, starting in early spring to early summer. I remember I used to taste the sweet syrup of the flowers when I was in elementary school with my friends.

May is the month when the rainy season, tsuyu starts. As well as the beauty of sakura, there are many other beautiful trees and flowers that will be flourished and give us joys and comfort to our eyes. I hope to introduce some of those changes in nature in up-coming Metroblogging Tokyo.

Below is the information on azalea of Japan. It is in Japanese, so if you cannot read Japanese, I apologize. Though you can still enjoy the pictures!!

http://www.sizenken.biodic.go.jp/pc/ikimono/thema/03/setsumei/tutuji.html

Japanese Sakura/cherry blossom is well known for its beauty. My young memory of sakura is the beautiful blooming flower at the gate of my elementary school. At the beginning of every school year, I remember it was so beautiful. It was almost the flower saying ‘Congratulations!!’ to start a new year.

On the other hand, sakura often comes with hanami (cherry blossom seeing). As I had long been away from Japan, I have never really had hanami that what seems many adults enjoy with a lot of food and alcohol.　I mean people get really crazy at hanami. They start drinking before it gets dark and people often get totally wasted. It is not surprising to see police looking after such drunken people. Moreover, homeless people search for food and drinks after hamani people leave.

Three weeks passed since the blooming sakura, the beautiful pink flowers fallen on the ground and now it is all green. I have to admit that pink flowers are really beautiful, but the green leaves that come after the flowers are also unbelievably refreshing to my eyes. It is now that the color of greenness gets darker and darker and the parks once filled with beautiful pink flowers are replaced with deep rich green leaves.

Ueno Park is one of Tokyos best places for watching the cherry blossoms. Tokyo Metrobloggers gathered and had some food and drink. This is the end of the financial year, and a lot of office workers are making a real effort to enjoy the brief time of the hanami (watching flowers).

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The Sakura are approaching full bloom in Tokyo. Pictured is Chidorigafuchi, one of the best spots for viewing Cherry Blossom. You can go boating under the trees and at nearby Yasakuni Jinja, the trees are lit up at night (from 1830-2200 until April 1st inclusive).

Posted from my mobile phone

Has the Cherry Blossom arrived? I’m probably wrong, but this looks suspiciously like Sakura…

I’m not the only one waiting

Posted from my mobile phone

Any updates on when is going to be the peak time for viewing Cherry Blossom in Tokyo?

Last month’s official forecast was for March 25-April 3, a good week or two earlier than average (global warming?), but I haven’t seen any more recent forecasts; plus it turned cold today.
I have Hanami parties planned for March 24 & 31.

These are the Sakura maps that I found so far.

Everyone seems to be blogging about the Playstation 3 launch in Tokyo last Saturday.
This Kotaku report talks consoles being re-sold online at a big profit and homeless and Chinese people being paid to stand in line.
I’m not surprised though as it happens with a lot of events here. For Hanami (Cherry Blossom parties), groups often pay homeless people to spend all day guarding a prime location under the trees, before the group turns up in the early evening.

More links:
The Fans
Video of the launch chaos
Kotaku Round-up

Chocolate? Cherry? Price Hike? Politically Incorrect?

Originally uploaded by iMorpheus.

Chocolate and Cherry flavored cigarettes offer all the harmful effects of smoking masked by the joyful taste of chocolate or the wonder of cherry goodness. Chocolate and Cherry cigarettes are for the hip and now smoker.

I was tempted to try one.

Anyone have one yet?

We are currently in peak Sakura (Cherry Blossom) season here in Tokyo. Check out Flickr to get your fill of pink. Otherwise follow this Sakura Guide and see it for yourself. Chidorigafuchi is my favourite spot.

Sunny and warm day, after 2 hours walking in a park, I found Sakura(cherry tree)