SAKURA SAKURA.

April is over. That means one third of the year has passed.
How is everyone doing?
After my self-proclaimed arrival of spring in the last newsletter, the cold lingered, and my chilblains actually worsened in the first half of April.
I wonder how many people get chilblains.
Despite being in a privileged situation with no worries about food, clothing, or shelter, I suffer from chilblains, which must mean my circulation is quite poor.

But the Nordic sun has been pushing through since April! This time, it's undeniably spring.

Yesterday, I was able to enjoy the full bloom of cherry blossoms at Stockholm's Royal Park.
These cherry trees were gifts of friendship from Japan.
Many people walked along the cherry blossom arch of the avenue, smiling as they looked up at the blossoms.
There were people in cosplay, Swedes in kimonos!, and babies like cherry blossom sprites in pink hats.

Then, two police motorcycles (the big BMW kind!) approached with an air of importance, and one pulled sharply into the cherry tree avenue and stopped.
Are they looking for someone? Is it an emergency? A slight tension ran through me.
Then the police officer on the motorcycle struck a pose for his colleague's phone.
......
It means peace.

Not only Japanese people, but people from other countries too, might feel that indescribable exhilaration when they see cherry blossoms in full bloom. It's the mysterious charm of cherry blossoms.