Japanese Festivals

Video Transcript

(Note: This transcript has been edited for readability.)

"In Japan you can pretty much guarantee you're going to celebrate a festival per month. Some towns and cities will have their own, and they'll be associated to a historical event or to a shrine or a temple. Right now in the springtime, because it's March right now, it's probably one of the most important festivals in Japan—or seasons, I'd call it—[and that] is 'hanami,' which is a time to take a picnic under the cherry blossom trees. So, when cherry blossoms are in bloom, you need to get out of the house and you need to take your family and go have a picnic. You drink, you eat, and you sing songs, and you visit your Japanese neighbors, so I highly recommend the cherry blossom season and festival."

A retired service member describes Japanese festivals.