Chris Returns to Japan!

Chris and I go way back, we met in University where we did all kinds of crazy stuff like study Linguistics, take Japanese classes, and go tree planting in Northern Canada. That's where we met actually. The two of us would practice our Japanese while sticking tree saplings in the ground, to the entertainment and consternation of the beavers, blackflies and our fellow tree planters.
Anyway Chris used to live in Japan years ago and finally came back for a visit in March. I didn't see him much as he was also here on business, and had a lot of people to see, but we did hang out a few times. Here we are in Shibuya in front of a Lawson convenience store following the grand tradition of drinking beer and chu-hi's on the street.
It was a busy month in terms of friends visiting. Alex, another good friend who also lived in Japan previously, came to stay for about a month as well.

Hanami season is here again! After a late start due to strangely cold weather, the cherry blossoms finally came out. Kumi and I went to look at the trees twice, once in the day and once at night. Despite what you may think, night time hanami viewing is very popular, with people heading to parks in the evening then drinking till late at night under the cherry trees. In the dark, and with the park lights on, the hanami trees take on a ghostly, mysterious look.
To check out the trees in the daytime, we headed to Shinjuku Gyoen, a famous park that makes you pay to get inside. It was worth it though as the park is huge, beautiful and not too crowded even on a Saturday. Till next year cherry blossoms!