Koh’s Tokyo Dialogue

In my previous column, I introduced wisteria (fuji) and briefly touched on hanafuda , the traditional Japanese card game that represents each month with seasonal imagery. This time, I’d like to return to hanafuda once again. The Next Star After Cherry Blossoms — Fuji (Wisteria) in April The deck, which took its current form in the 19th century during the Edo period , beautifully captures the changing seasons. But if you look closely, you may notice a subtle “mismatch” between the flowers depicted on the cards and the seasons as we experience them today. This time, we’ll focus on the peony (botan), now in full bloom, and explore this curious discrepancy. Wisteria in April, Peonies That Come “Too Early” In hanafuda, peonies appear as the card for June. They are depicted together with butterflies—an established motif known as “peony and butterfly.” This pairing originated in Chinese art, where it symbolized beauty, prosperity, and elegance, and was later adopted and widely apprec...

In my February and March columns, I explored Japan’s seasonal flower culture through plum blossoms and cherry blossoms. And along the way, I realized something. It connects to a traditional Japanese card game I introduced before: Hanafuda . What is Hanafuda?　A Unique Japanese Souvenir for Nintendo Fans Unlike Western playing cards, Hanafuda has no numbers. Each month is represented purely through imagery, creating a visually rich and uniquely Japanese game. In this system, February is symbolized by plum blossoms, and March by cherry blossoms. So naturally, we shouldn’t stop there. April has its own flower as well. Fuji—wisteria. April features fuji (wisteria) paired with a cuckoo—a classic combination   When the cherry blossoms fall, many people feel a quiet sense of loss. But that moment is not an ending—it’s a transition. In late April, a new presence quietly takes over the city. Long clusters of purple flowers begin to cascade down from above, forming what can only...

  After the Peak at Chidorigafuchi As Tokyo’s cherry blossom season draws to a close, I visited one of the city’s most iconic spots on April 8: Chidorigafuchi. I had missed the peak bloom, but some blossoms still clung to the branches. Petals drifted through the air like snow—a scene known in Japanese as sakura fubuki , or “cherry blossom snowstorm.” It was a quiet reminder that the season had come to an end in Tokyo. A little sad, yet undeniably beautiful. That said, I wasn’t there just to take in the afterglow. This year’s sakura season came with a piece of news that caught my attention. A cherry tree at this famous spot had collapsed. 本日（４月２日）明け方、千鳥ヶ淵緑道脇にあるさくら（ソメイヨシノ）１本が倒木し、緑道の一部を閉鎖させていただいております。 皆様にはご不便をおかけしますが、緑道などの安全管理を徹底してまいりますので、安心してお花見をお楽しみください。… pic.twitter.com/gYynFD34Mp — 千代田区 (@chiyoda_city) April 2, 2026 It reportedly fell in the early morning of April 2, right around peak bloom. Strong winds and rain the night before are believed to have been the direct cause. Fo...

Ginza is one of the most expensive districts in Japan—arguably the most expensive. On one side stands the flagship store of Apple , and across the street, a boutique of Tiffany & Co. . It’s a street lined with some of the world’s most prestigious brands. But among them, there is one store drawing an unusually large crowd—and it might not be what you expect. On March 28, 2026, a new store opened in this prime location. Its exterior is sleek, and inside, it’s packed with international visitors. It’s the flagship store of JINS —a Japanese budget eyewear chain. A “Smart” Eyewear Experience Step inside, and you immediately notice that this is not your typical glasses shop. The space is bright, open, and carefully organized. Customers freely pick up frames and try them on, almost like browsing in a fashion store. One feature stands out: an AI-powered measurement device. Stand in front of it, and the system scans your face, measuring details such as the distance be...

April 1st. A rainy morning. Rain during cherry blossom season is often called “flower-scattering rain,” and is usually unwelcome. Still, I went out early to see the cherry blossoms along the Sumida River. Every bud had opened. It was fair to call it full bloom. But in some trees, leaves were already beginning to appear. Petals drifted in the wind, and the rain-soaked ground was tinted soft pink. The peak had just passed, and the blossoms were beginning their slow journey toward the end— though they would likely remain at their best through the coming weekend. Despite the rain, it was a day you could easily call “perfect timing.” And yet, this idea of perfect timing is exactly what makes cherry blossoms so difficult. Everyone wants to see them at their best. But the timing changes every year. And for travelers coming from abroad— especially those planning their trips months in advance— this uncertainty becomes even more frustrating. Cherry blossoms resist prediction. St...

It’s cherry blossom season in Japan. Every year, people start talking about the best places to see sakura. In Tokyo, names like Ueno Park , Meguro River , and Chidorigafuchi always come up. But here’s the thing—cherry blossoms aren’t limited to famous spots. You’ll find them everywhere: in front of stations, in quiet neighborhoods, along small rivers. Sometimes you just look up—and there they are. So does it really matter where you go? Not everyone feels the need to head to the busiest places. For some, avoiding the crowds is part of the experience. To be honest, I wasn’t entirely sure how to approach this topic. Simply listing famous locations didn’t feel quite right. Note: Some of the photos in this article may not be from this year. Looking at Hanami from a Different Angle Instead, I started thinking about something else: the relationship between place and people. What do people actually do during hanami? What are they looking for? In this article, I’ll break down cherry blossom ...