"Would you like to go cherry blossom viewing with me next time?"
The hostess's response to the message sent by Hachimine was curt.
Cherry blossoms are already beginning to fall.
But Hachimine was confident.
Don't worry, this time the cherry blossoms are indoors."
Hanami Lantern Night - Cherry Blossom Festival returns to Shinjuku after a two-year absence
Hanami Lantern Night" is an indoor event held in the Shinjuku Sumitomo Building Triangular Plaza. The main content of the event is the Sky Lantern Release, in which up to 1,500 LED Sky Lanterns will float simultaneously, as well as all-you-can-drink drinks, an artist stage, and a kitchen car. The event will be held from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m., with the lantern release around 8:30 p.m. The ticket includes one lantern and all-you-can-drink.
It was first held in 2023, moved to Aichi in 2024, and was not held in 2025. This year's event is the first time it has been held again in two years. In the past, this popular event sold out immediately.
Even indoors, dumplings are better than flowers
It was a hostess in Ginza who approached him. After the first exchange,
I told him, "There's a lantern event coming up, would you like to go?" His immediate response was, "I'll go.
I didn't expect them to say no, but I didn't expect them to return at that rate.
Upon entering the venue, a row of lanterns overhead filled the space with soft spring-like light.
There were several kitchen cars lined up, and the hostess did not hesitate to go for the dumplings. She handed Hachimine one of the skewers, which he accepted as a matter of course, saying "Hanami is all about this."
I thought dumplings at a cherry blossom viewing event would have a twist to it."
I said, "You don't have to twist. It's the right answer."
Artist stage and the merits and demerits of all-you-can-drink
For a while after the show started, we killed time with unlimited drinks while watching the artist stage. The distance from the seats to the stage was just right, and the volume was not bad for listening while drinking.
Do you like this kind of thing?" I asked, to which he replied, "I like cherry blossom viewing.
I didn't need to ask, thinking, "Which do you like better: cherry blossoms, lanterns, or all-you-can-drink?" It would be all of them.
Each time the glass was emptied, it was refilled, and Hachimine stopped counting how many glasses he had consumed along the way.
At 8:30 p.m., 1,500 cherry blossoms rise
The staff handed out lanterns, which raised the tension in the hall a bit. Holding it in his hand, it was lighter than expected. Hachimine gazed at it for a while, glowing in the color of cherry blossoms.
Was it something where you write down your wishes?"
That's another one. This one just flies."
An announcement was made and the countdown began.
As soon as the entire venue released their hands at the same timing, 1,500 lights appeared simultaneously.
I don't want to say too much because words would be cliché, but it was beautiful. Flocks of cherry blossoms rose slowly toward the high ceiling, softly tinting the entire atrium. The scene continued for about 15 minutes.
The hostess next door said nothing. Hachimine didn't say anything either. It's okay to have that kind of time once in a while.
After the cherry blossom viewing, go to Ginza
After the lanterns rose toward the ceiling, we both headed for the restaurant.
That's the end of the story when it comes to companionship. As I sat down and accepted the glass the hostess poured me, I was still basking in the afterglow of the scene I had just witnessed.
The hostess said to me, "Your lanterns were beautiful."
Yes, but you are much prettier. But you're even prettier," Hachimine replied smugly. Hachimine replied with a pretentious smile, "Yes, but you're much prettier.
With that one word, Hachimine's love for the girl was as fleeting as a cherry blossom petal.
Summary
Perhaps hanami is closer to the essence of sharing time with someone using cherry blossoms as an excuse than cherry blossom viewing itself. I didn't particularly think about what that lantern that I had taken off my hand toward the sky had meant.
Hachimine thinks that this indoor hanami with lanterns flying was not a bad idea. In fact, he would be happy to do it again. Though he is not sure if it will be held next year or not.
