Sakura 2008

A few weeks ago in Okazaki it was Ohanami season, which translates to cherry blossom viewing. This is a very popular time of the year for friends and family to gather underneath the cherry trees and enjoy afternoon picnics and evening walks underneath the trees which are lit up with small lights. During this time there are stands of food set up around the castle in Okazaki and they serve everything from fried octopus balls, to turkish pita sandwiches to candied apples. There are also carnival games like scooping up goldfish with a small bowl and there was also a haunted house. The end of the season was capped off with a parade through Okazaki in celebration of Ieyasu Tokugawa, one of Japan's most important shoguns who happened to be born in Okazaki. Along with the parade, which features men and children dressed as samurais, a show of artillery from the Edo era and beauty queens, there were also dance teams putting on shows.

Since this was my second Ohanami season there weren't any surprises however when I was walking around the food stands I came across something that took my breath away... Safeway Select lemon lime soda!! I have no idea where the stand owners purchased the soda but it did have a sticker on it with a Japanese translation of the ingredients and such. Maybe Safeway is expanding to the Japanese market, just in time for me to return back to Canada.