Yes, the Hanami season is in full bloom. As a follow-up to my post last week titled simply Hanami, I thought I`d take a quick minute and offer some basic rules for Hanami parties. As they are the best parties of the year, you don`t want to ruin them by committing any of the following faux pas.
Rule 1: Bring Your Own Beer.
While many Hanami parties are All You Can Drink events with beer and other spirits provided, this should not be assumed and it`s best to err on the side of caution. Being that many of the parties are held in large parks with no convenient store near by, you definitely want to be prepared with enough beer for yourself. There is no need to bring any kind of `gift` for whom ever arranged the party unless it`s being held at a private residence.
Rule 2: Don`t bring anything you`re not prepared to never see again.
While it`s not really camping, it is usually somewhere with lots of trees and BBQ, so the same rule applies to Hanami parties as to camping trips, float trips, and Fuji Rock Festival of don`t take anything you`re not prepared to lose. Anything can happen and things get lost, there a lot going on after all and you don`t want to spend the whole time minding your belongings.
Rule 3: Eat
This one is kind of like when the exercise instructor keeps telling you to breath, it should be obvious but actually isn`t when you`re in the heat of battle. I know there`s lots of food being cooked all around and it seems like a cornucopia but it will run out, either that or the guys doing the cooking will get too drunk to continue. So get while the gettin`s good, chances are you`ve paid for it.
* Rules 4 and 5 are for the ladies only. The greatest party of the year can`t, after all, be bogged down with a bunch of rules now can it?
Rule 4: Disregard rule #2
Ladies, while the Hanami party does have a camping type feel to it, it isn`t over night. You`re going to want to bring all the enmities of home including a jacket, a mask (hay fever), tissue (toilet), sunglasses, your nicest purse, a change of knickers, a blanket (it`s can be cold) and whatever food you have prepared. You`re just going to have to keep yourself together enough to keep track of everything. Dosen`t sound fair, go to your travel dictionary and look up; double standard.
Rule 5: Watch the kids.
While the Hanami party is the greatest party of the year, it is at a park so kids are more than welcome. It is, however, your responsibility to mind them at all times and not let them run around and let all the drunk guys see how high they can throw them in the air. Hanami parties are nothing if not a time to let out all that aggression built up over the last few cold, winter months, be careful. And by kids, I mean children, boyfriends and husbands.
Follow these few, simple rules and you are sure to have a pleasant Hanami season party or parties. Enjoy; eat, drink and be merry.
East Egg 