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Apr 15 2012 14 Comments

The season when drinking on the street isn’t seen as antisocial

In fact so long as there are a few bits of cherry blossom still about, drinking on the street is not only socially acceptable, it’s sociable. Plus possibly even more staggering is the fact that it’s so incredibly civilised.

Japanese street hanami

Categorized: Culture, Food and Drink, Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lizzy says

    4/16/2012 at 1:10 am

    Picnic in the street. I love it! I don’t know if it’s extra confidence or comfort in their surroundings, but this definitely trumps picnicing in the park on some level.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      4/16/2012 at 11:52 am

      I was equally impressed, especially as they looked so comfortable there. I never thought about the confidence/comfort aspect, but you are right, they definitely must have one or the other. Maybe even both.

      Reply
      • Jeffrey says

        4/17/2012 at 3:54 am

        You know those damned conformist Japanese!

        It is interesting how scenes like this run counter to the not infrequent rigidity and formality that one bumps up against. I mean, they’re even drinking wine rather than beer or sake.

        Reply
        • Lee says

          4/17/2012 at 9:29 am

          Yes, I love contradictions like this. Arguably not what you’d expect, and yet it seems perfectly normal.

          As for the wine, I’ve noticed a lot more of it over the last few years.

          Reply
  2. john says

    4/16/2012 at 2:17 am

    “Me feet are wreckin’ after all that shoppin’!”

    Reply
    • Lee says

      4/16/2012 at 11:52 am

      And what a way to rest them!

      Reply
  3. Linette says

    4/17/2012 at 12:32 am

    What!? You mean you can just plop down anywhere and have a picnic as long as it’s cherry blossom season?

    Reply
    • Lee says

      4/17/2012 at 9:30 am

      It often seems that way. So long as there’s no obstruction or danger, nobody seems to bother.

      Reply
      • Linette says

        4/17/2012 at 11:34 am

        Japan is awesome.

        Reply
  4. winnie says

    4/17/2012 at 9:19 am

    Well prepared with some food and a bottle of white wine a while sitting on a small mat along the street.
    They really enjoying!
    I will feel too cold if I am sitting there!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      4/17/2012 at 9:32 am

      Yes, they were all set for a very pleasant afternoon. It was pretty warm that afternoon, so you’d have been fine.

      Reply
  5. Jake says

    4/17/2012 at 10:45 pm

    People were pretty much wrecked, drinking in the park at 8 am on a Sunday morning. Or perhaps it was still Saturday night.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      4/18/2012 at 9:57 am

      Yeah, this year was a big one. Never in my life have I seen such huge queues for the men’s toilets.

      Reply
  6. Kyohei says

    4/27/2012 at 10:33 am

    Hey I’ve just found this blog, and I like it!!
    Anyway good to see the people drinking under the Sakura tree in Tokyo.
    Here in Furano, Hokkaido Sakura doesn’t bloom until the middle of May…. and it’s not as thick as Someiyoshino(the most common Sakura in mainland), but we have pinky Yamazakura.
    Nice post anyway 😉

    Reply

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