Next day I went to the Japanese language school to watch my Philippino friend's classmates congratulating their senior students who graduated this year. Current students sang a song in Japanese. Then graduated students made their short speeches. One girl was from the States, particularly from Washington D.C. And she said that her homeland proudly has its national Cherry blossom festival enjoying real Sakura trees which were presented from Japan over a hundred years ago from mayor of Tokyo in sign of friendship. Every year people enjoy real Japanese sakura, usually in April. The girl came to Okinawa 8 years ago. First years she felt homesick away from her family. In spring she went to watch Okinawan sakura blossom to northern mountains but she was disappointed because Okinawan sakura was not as gorgeous as on the mainland and it was a far cry from Washington Cherry festival, too. Finally, she said, she managed to like Okinawan small pink flowers which blossom when green leaves are already showed up.
I hope she will have a chance to watch Sakura blossom in Tokyo someday. This season is coming soon. Sakura alleys along rivers and channels will cover with pink and white foam of flowers, and then small nicely shaped petals will fall slowly to the ground and onto the water suface, reminding a snowfall.
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