Japanese Hanami Picnic and Party

Hanami (flower viewing) is a gorgeous Japanese tradition of picnicking under the cherry blossoms in Spring. Whether you want to take a straightforward picnic to the park, have a Hanami orchad party or barbecue at home, or take it indoors if the weather isn't so good, Hanami makes for a colourful setting and some fun cooking and preparation!

Hanami Food & Drink
The Japanese pack their picnic food in bento boxes - lunch boxes with compartments for dissimilar types of food. The food for Hanami should be colourful, especially pink, white and green to reflect the colours of the bloom laden trees. Here are some ideas to get you started...

Yakitori Chicken (wonderful done on the barbecue, but just as great cold), Salmon Teryaki, Sushi Maki (you could get adventurous and try the cherry bloom version wrapped in salmon and made into a flower!), Tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omlette) - a bento box staple, Hanami Salad - a pretty cherry bloom inspired rice noodle salad, Dango rice dumplings (traditionally pink, white and green for Hanami) - a bit of an acquired taste for the Western palette so you could use pink and white marshmallows threaded on a bamboo skewer instead. Drink Sake! (preferably served warm).

Hanami Decoration
If you hanami in the park, you'll have the real cherry bloom to sit under. If you conclude to Hanami at home (outside or in) you can decorate with paper lanterns and sprigs of cherry blossom, and fold some cherry bloom napkins. You can find beneficial videos on how fold cherry bloom napkins on YouTube.

Eating Japanese Style
In Japan, food is often eaten off low tables and cushions on the floor, rather than Western style chairs and tables. If you are having a Hanami party at home and have a low table this might be nice to try.

You can't have a Japanese party without chopsticks! There are quite a few rules surrounding the use of chopsticks, the main ones being; don't spear your food with them or leave them sticking up in a bowl of rice and don't point with them or wave them nearby in the air.

You say "itadakimasu" ("I gratefully receive") before eating, and "gochisosama (deshita)" ("Thank you for the meal") afterwards.

When drinking alcohol, it is traditional to serve each other, rather than pouring your own drink so keep an eye on your friend's glasses!

And finally, in Japan its not unusual to see barbecues, karaoke machines and boom boxes, and even night time picnics in parks strung with lanterns. So go to town and have your own Hanami party... At home or in the park!

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