花見: Hanami (flower viewing)

Hanami is a traditional custom in Japan. Each year, as the spring arrives, flowers begin to bloom and people enjoy walking in parks etc, marvelling the spectacle. It's really an excuse though to sit around with your friends, eating and drinking. Or, as the photo below illustrates watching other people get tremendously drunk. This group from Tokyo University (I think) seemed to be patiently sitting in a circle waiting for their name to be called, whereupon they would leap up, scream something as loud as they could to the enthused crowd before downing a beer - I guess the endgame was to demolish the beer pyramid at the centre of their party. It was quite bizarre - but great fun.