There was a good turnout

Hanami meeting

It has been 12 years since the Icelandic-Japanese association planted Japanese cherry trees in Hljómskálagarður. But when the cherry trees are in bloom, people gather in public gardens throughout the Imperial Japan to admire the beautiful pink flowers that bloom so beautifully. You arrive with a tasty bento (lunch box) and drinks to share with others. This tradition is called Hanami in Japanese. In recent years, this tradition has been established in Hljómskálagarður, to hold this festival, when the cherry trees bloom in Reykjavík.

Relations between Iceland and Japan have been strong and good in recent decades. After all, both are island nations on volcanic islands. There is a lot of trade between the nations, and has been for decades. We sell seafood to the Japanese on a large scale, and buy from them cars, and all kinds of electrical appliances such as televisions, cameras, lenses and stereos.

Blooming cherry tree in Hljómskálagarður
Both the young and the old attended the event
There was a good turnout
Japanese delicacies were served…
Like this delicious Japanese cheese
Photographs & text: Páll Stefánsson
Reykjavík 12/05/2023 : RX1R II : 2.0/35mm Z