Sakura! Sakura!

 It's finally sakura season, and it has to be one of the most beautiful times on the earth. I believe Japan has millions of these wonderful, old twisted trunk cherry trees that put on their show each spring throughout the entire country. The photos just can't do it justice, but we will try anyway. Lee has been in heaven taking pictures, and I am in heaven just walking around trying to take it all in.

  We left Saturday morning at 8 a.m. with two gracious friends from the ward. Our warmest thanks to Sister Kondo and Sister Morita. Without their guidance, we couldn't have found such a wonderful place.

It has been very cold and windy for an unusually long time here. It's hard to believe that these hardy blossoms are putting on such a show in spite of the weather. I really bundled up for this trip, and I was so glad. We were dropped off at the eki (train station) and rode into the Nagoya eki, changed trains and went further north, and then took a bus. The transportation system in Japan is clean, efficient, and enjoyable.

Off the bus, we walked a few short blocks on darling narrow streets that reminded Lee of when he was in Japan 42 years ago. We came to a three-story Shinto shrine in a small covered area, where there was a ceremony in progress. A priest with a tall hat was standing outside in front of the shine bowing, praying, and clapping. After he finished, other priests in nice robes but without the hat, each took a turn coming up, followed by people whose names they announced out of the watching audience. Each one in turn would bow before the head priest, and the priest

would hand him a laurel branch with a white bow tied to it. He received and held the branch by it's stem. He would walk over to a table in front of the shrine, bow, turn the branch so the stem was away from him and lay it on a table, then bow again, clap twice, bow again, and then return to the group. There were a lot of people watching, many who were dressed in matching short kimono jackets with an emblem on the back. There were also children of all ages similarly dressed. It was very interesting to watch the ceremony.

This is a festival of the Haritsuma Shrine started in around 1635. 13 three tiered Yamas or the floats designated as folk culture properties of Aichi Prefecture march the streets and show the Karakuri-doll (or mechanical doll) performances with music of flutes and drums. 365 bright pink lanterns are hung on the blossoming trees that line the river.

We walked a little further and came to a shallow river, lined on each side with sakura trees. Breathtaking! The trees were loaded with blossoms, with branches bowing out over the water and paths. It is impossible to describe the beauty, and this sight goes on for miles. Every little ways there is a lovely bridge arching over the water. Big carp were swimming around below.

Along the walks were many little tent shops set up where people were selling various kinds of food, fresh vegetables, hand made items and just about anything else you can think of. Just like any farmer's market or bazarr in any place in the US, except for the interesting and different food items. Octopus, anyone? 

Or how about these fancy bananas. If we don't already have them in the US, maybe we should try them.

As we headed back, we discovered a parade. The shrine that I mentioned before had been removed from it's covered area and was being pulled (big wooden wheels) and partly carried (big logs that a person could put their shoulder under) along the narrow road. Children held a big rope in front and helped pull. Riding in the open back part of the shine were people playing pipes and drums. There were two live priests on the top layer and one "robut" priest who waved his white streamers and looked left and right. The shrine was carried this way for a few blocks, then with great effort and ceremony it was turned slightly to the left, rolled a little further, and there it met up with another shrine that had come from another direction. There was then some ceremony and singing by the children in the street. We left after that. But we were so happy to have been able to see that. It only happens once a year.

But the best treat was seeing the beauty of God's creation--the Sakura blossoms.

And just for fun, two more beauty shop names: Eagle Hair and Spikey Spikey (I know. You are all thinking that's where I've been going for the past several years.)