But you are a foreigner too Bismarck...

Aesma said:

But you are a foreigner too Bismarck...

Shhh....she's a big Akatsuki~

Aesma said:

But you are a foreigner too Bismarck...

She's been fully tatamized, she may as well be native now.

Aesma said:

But you are a foreigner too Bismarck...

She's foreigner outside, but inside of her heart she's Japanese.

Aesma said:

But you are a foreigner too Bismarck...

Maybe she talks from experience, yes?

What do you mean it's tricky for foreigners [to understand]? Here in Washington DC, there are tons of cherry trees. They take up most of the tidal basin and people come to see them. Hell, I just went to see them yesterday....in 40 degree weather....in the rain.

filipinowhiteboy said:

What do you mean it's tricky for foreigners [to understand]? Here in Washington DC, there are tons of cherry trees. They take up most of the tidal basin and people come to see them. Hell, I just went to see them yesterday....in 40 degree weather....in the rain.

There's being able to see the cherry trees blossom...and then there's Flower Viewing. Even in DC, it's not quite the cause for overt celebration the way it would be in Japan.

It's not even just doing hanami, that's only a part of it; part of the national psyche is based on the Japanese cherry blossom, and how it blooms for only a short time - the whole 'ephemeral, transient beauty' is certainly something that is admired.

The 'hard to understand' is what Musashi and Nachi are talking about, not just 'Let's go have a party under the pretty trees'.

Paracite said:

It's not even just doing hanami, that's only a part of it; part of the national psyche is based on the Japanese cherry blossom, and how it blooms for only a short time - the whole 'ephemeral, transient beauty' is certainly something that is admired.

The 'hard to understand' is what Musashi and Nachi are talking about, not just 'Let's go have a party under the pretty trees'.

So is flower viewing ‘hard to understand’ in the same way that things like the Big Sandy or Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoots* are ‘hard to understand’?

*they’re called “Machine Gun Shoots”, but if you can get on the list to be on the line feel free to bring your Anti-Material Rifles, Autocannons, Anti-Tank guns, tanks, or howitzers.

A_Lurker said:

So is flower viewing ‘hard to understand’ in the same way that things like the Big Sandy or Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoots* are ‘hard to understand’?

*they’re called “Machine Gun Shoots”, but if you can get on the list to be on the line feel free to bring your Anti-Material Rifles, Autocannons, Anti-Tank guns, tanks, or howitzers.

I... wouldn't say so. It's not something so deeply rooted in all of the population of a single nation while having effects on a large number of foreigners like sakura in Japan.

And really though, if you probe into why Japaneses generally admire sakura, it might reach places not even related to the flower or the tree at all. For example, just the fact that the trees don't bloom until a certain time in the year is already something can be taken philosophically.

I would say it's on par with the idea of "love" by this point. But well, what do I know? What is love?

P/S:
Baby don't hurt me.
Don't hurt me.
No more! ♪

Higusan said:

Maybe she talks from experience, yes?

Whose experience, her own or others?