This morning I’m sitting out on the veranda working on an article for a design magazine. It’s a gorgeous morning—the sun is burning off some early morning clouds and the day promises to be warm.
The sakura beyond the fence and across the tracks is just starting to give up its petals to the wind. Occasional gusts blow confetti upward or shower pink snow on the passing trains. The residents on the third and fourth floors of the building next to this lone tree have an eye-level view and have been capturing the spring glory in photos.
Around 8:30 a woman in a yellow t-shirt and unbrushed hair came out onto the 4th floor balcony to wave her keitai at the tree—an incantation for a friend.
Shortly after ten, a young man in a blue-tipped white t-shirt hauled out a professional-looking digital camera and snapped shots of the tree before catching me watching him. He carefully loaded the camera into a huge bag and ran down the stairs—on his way to party and take more pictures, I’m sure. A half dozen people have left the building with backpacks and duffles overflowing with picnic supplies.
Later today, when the article is done and Tod’s awake, I think we’ll take a walk under the sakura at the 33rd Annual Bunkyo-ku Sakura Matsuri near Myogadani.
Posted by kuri at April 03, 2004 10:53 AM