Canadian-style Hanami: Not what one expects
Many people may joke that Canada only has three seasons: winter, summer and construction season. Many Japanese people also may be shocked to learn that Canada has more than just winter. However, all Canadians know that ours is a country of four seasons, no matter how long or short-lived they may seem. Compared to the Japanese, though, we don’t tend to celebrate seasonal distinctions in quite the same manner.
In Japan, the fall is well received by flocks of camera-happy people (mostly senior citizens) trying to find the best angle of reddening maple trees. In the winter most people savour the season with a big pot of nabe, followed by a dip in a nearby onsen. Summer brings out traditional-style yukata dresses shown off at local festivals. Spring, though, is the highlight of all seasons with Hanami, otherwise known as a Cherry Blossom Picnic, where groups of people get together and enjoy the delicate flowers blossoming with a can of chu-hai in hand.
No JET experience can be complete without some epic Hanami story to be told. It is one of the most memorable times of the year, when people can let loose and enjoy good food, sake, friends and pleasant weather all under the canopy of the cherry blossoms.
This being said, how does Canadian Hanami compare to Hanami in Japan? If you’ve been engrained with the ideal that Hanami is uniquely Japanese, I bet you’re thinking ‘What? There’s Hanami in Canada?’ Well the answer is yes. Yes, we have cherry blossoms and yes we have Hanami. In fact, Hanami this year was held on Sunday, May 5th. This of course, was the date that JETAA and JCSA (with support from CJS, Japanada, JAVA, and the Toronto Kimono Club) decided to get together and have our Toronto Japanese Community Hanami.
Nonetheless cherry blossom viewing was not limited to only us, as thousands of Torontonians and tourists a like went to High Park to get a glimpse of the week-long seasonal delight. In regards to JETAA, the Hanami event was a huge success with several tarps full of ex-JETers, future JETers, friends and family of JETAA, loads of Japanese people (roughly 75%) and those who were just interested in Japanese culture and meeting Japanese people.
The Cherry blossom hill at High Park was bustling with picnic-ready people and was accompanied by amazingly hot and sunny weather. The surrounding atmosphere was reminiscent of Japanese springtime, but yet remained distinctly Canadian. For one, the ban of alcohol consumption in public spaces in Canada was a huge difference to Japanese Hanami. Although some people may have snuck in a few drinks to the park, the lack of alcohol was very noticeable. There were no old men there, drunk on sake, ready to either pass out or approach foreigners thinking they can speak English. There were no young drunk men acting all loud and bold. In fact most of the people in the park, were individual families or young couples enjoying a Sunday afternoon of PG fun in the sun. Despite the fact that there was a considerable less amount of drinking going on at the Canadian Hanami, there was the lingering smell of reefer in the air, proof enough that we weren’t in Japan.
Another interesting distinction of the Canadian Hanami, was that people weren’t really sitting. Most people were standing and milling around. They weren’t relaxing and eating a homemade bento. Instead they were mostly socializing with the occasional snacking of a few chips here, or cookies there. They were walking to the ice-cream trucks and hot-dog stands. They were taking in others drumming and singing music, or watching trick acrobatics. They were strolling through the trees to the lagoon. They were standing in never-ending line-ups for the jiffy johns. They were climbing up the cherry blossom trees. They were doing anything but sitting most of the time. Whereas in Japan a huge part of Hanami is preparing a picnic, in Canada it’s not so much about the picnic and is more about being there.
Hanami in Canada may feel different in comparison to the Japanese version, however, it was quite enjoyable and well worth the experience. For those who couldn’t attend this year’s Hanami, there’s always next year. See you then!
Text by Judy Cerovski
Photos by Nick Jones, Bokeh Photography