Cherry Blossom Party

　　The Cherry Blossom Party is one of the seasonal cultural activities in Japan. Lots of people get together around the cherry trees and enjoy eating, drinking and chatting. I visited Dogo Park, which is well known as the best place for the party. I'll show you the picture of a cherry tree which is above me.
　　As you know, Japan is now struggling to get over the unprecedented disaster. Nearly 30,000 people were killed by the devastating tsunami and more than 300,000 people are now in shelters. In the non-affected area, some people insist that you should voluntarily refrain from doing something happy for the people who are suffering pain. Others say that you should behave as usual to stimulate the economy and it will eventually end in reviving the affected area.
　　I and my friends didn't know which was better and calmly enjoyed the beautiful cherry blossoms over a Japanese sake.

(Vocabulary from comments)
context (出来事・状況などの) 背景/ (文章の) 前後関係, 文脈
understand/view/place/see sth in the context of sth ＜…＞を＜…＞の背景［事情］とともに考える
outward 表面上の, うわべの/ 外へ向かう
introspection 内省, 自己反省
impermanence 非永続性, はかなさ, 無常
impermanent 不変ではない, はかない, 無常の
acutely ひどく, 痛切に
caring (人・態度などが)面倒見のよい, 思いやりのある, 優しい
the caring professions  福祉関係の職業, 人の世話をする職業
internal  内心の
his internal unease 彼の内心の不安 [同意] inner
turmoil 混乱, 騒動, 動揺
in this time of 今回の
engender〈感情など〉を抱かせる, 〈問題など〉を引き起こす
engender sth in sb ＜人＞に＜感情など＞を抱かせる
recharge [他]（電池）を充電する／[他]（人）に活力［元気］を回復させる
charge 充電する
assuage (フォーマル) 〈苦痛・怒り・心配など〉 を和らげる [同意] relieve
otherwise 違ったふうに, 別なように

 
 

Comments

[KUMO]

Thank you, Shiroi Tora
You don't need to worry about it. I understood what you meant.

[Shiroi Tora]

I fear my earlier comment may have been misunderstood.

I do understand the Japanese culture. Besides having been raised in Japan for a number of years early in my life...and going back to work there for a year...both, my mother, and my wife, are from Japan. I was also raised with mostly Japanese male influences throughout most of my young and young adult life.

What I had said was in the context of the nature of enjoyment while viewing the cherry blossoms. It is not one of outward expression but one of more introspection...enjoying the beauty of simplicity in the blossoms and, in life, coupled with the knowledge of the impermanence of their, and so, our life span...and the magnification of that beauty because of it.

I am also acutely aware of the human condition.

I know that KUMO is of a caring nature. He thinks and feels deeply. I know what he had meant and the internal turmoil he must have felt. He didn't wish to seem to be non caring in this time of great national suffering.

It was also said in the context that to be at a place that engenders great internal solitude and introspection... allowing one to reflect upon life...the sacredness and beauty of it...does not dishonor the suffering or oneself. It is because of great internal suffering that one needs to have this sort of time to recharge and assuage the soul.

A person whom is in no need of solitude (as one has internally in such places), and the deep introspection that occurs...is one who is in no need of them because he is insincere in life. Knowing that KUMO is very sincere, I naturally concluded he would be in need of such a place and event.

I hope that you, KUMO...had not thought otherwise of my first comment.

シロイトラ

[KUMO]

Thanks, Shiroi_Tora and Peter

[Peter]

It's very true that the Americans have never understood the spiritual elements of Japanese sociiety. Peter

[Shiroi Tora]

Last week, my family and I went to San Francisco to the Japan Town Cherry Blossom Festival. It was OK. However, it was nothing like the one I had gone to in Osaka.

I loved the festivals in Japan...all the food stands...the orderly festive atmosphere...the comfortable feeling of being there.

I say...don't worry about whether or not to enjoy yourself in times of suffering not directly attributed to you. To enjoy yourself is to allow your spirit to recover, so you may then give more to others afterwards.

It looks as if you had a good time there...that is good...you deserve a break. In your profession...you give so much in the service to others...you have already earned the right to make yourself happy.