As the last of the cherry blossoms started to fall, we watched a reenactment of a famous hanami party at Daigoji, a temple in southeastern Kyoto. Our friend K who is studying at Nagoya U. came along for the festivities and we enjoyed bento lunches under the blossoms and then watched traditional dancing and a procession of people potraying Toyotomi Hideyoshi and his court enjoying a 1598 party.
The centerpiece of Daigoji is a five storied pagoda dating from 951 (Kyoto's oldest building). The staff for the festival were wearing bright pink windbreakers which said "Daigoji. Since 874." I like this--it's like reading a sign on a diner in Vermont: "since 1978."
The down side of all this beautiful springtime is the pollen from the sugi trees (cryptomeria). Lots of smart folks are wearing face masks to prevent allergic reactions. I'm not, and so I'm suffering a little. Little J seems to have inherited my respiratory system--he's been sneezing and his poor little eyes are watering.
The centerpiece of Daigoji is a five storied pagoda dating from 951 (Kyoto's oldest building). The staff for the festival were wearing bright pink windbreakers which said "Daigoji. Since 874." I like this--it's like reading a sign on a diner in Vermont: "since 1978."
The down side of all this beautiful springtime is the pollen from the sugi trees (cryptomeria). Lots of smart folks are wearing face masks to prevent allergic reactions. I'm not, and so I'm suffering a little. Little J seems to have inherited my respiratory system--he's been sneezing and his poor little eyes are watering.
We're saying a final farewell to the cherry blossom season today. After an entire week of fabulous weather, it's now windy and rainy. Sayanara sakura.
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