Hanami, Deloraine style
Among the picknickers under the cherry blossom on the Meander riverbank this year were Hobart residents Seiko Kanda, Yukiko Burns and Chigusa Buchman. Seiko has lived in Tasmania for 50 years, Yukiko for 46 years and Chigusa for 40 years.
Yuko and Shane Oriel of Mole Creek’s Blackwood Cottages with their son Lucca, picnicking with Julian and Mina Worrall of Launceston with their son Leo. Photos by Sharon Webb.
Deloraine’s dazzling cherry blossom a hit with Japanese diaspora
A sunny spring day and a small forest of cherry blossom on the Meander River banks attracted many of Tasmania’s Japanese population to Hanami in Deloraine last month.
Around 50 people from as far as Hobart, Launceston, Cressy and Mole Creek picnicked under the palest pink blossom of cherry trees donated many years ago by Rick Shiratori of Japan’s Shiratori Flour Mills.
It was the first Hanami (viewing of the cherry blossom) held in Deloraine by the Tasmanian branch of the Australia Japan Society, but for many years local people linked with Japan through teacher and student exchanges and Meander’s Aiki Kai Aikido club have also picnicked under the trees.
Lisa Walkden, a Japanese language teacher at Hagley Farm School, organised September’s picnic. ‘We can’t go to Japan so what could be better than cherry blossom in Deloraine?’
Teacher Geraldine Pennicott of Reedy Marsh who worked for two years in Japan, said Hanami was huge there.
‘As soon as the blossom comes out everyone downs tools and picnics under the blossom. They sit on blue tarps and have a jolly good time.
‘TV weather programs forecast peak cherry blossom season in different parts of the country.’
Ms Pennicott said Japanese people revere the blossom. ‘It represents the change of seasons and its fleeting nature reflects the impermanence of life.’
