Spring has begun, and so has Japan's obsession¹ with cherry blossoms.

春天来了，日本各地的赏樱热潮也开始了。

Visitors take a close look at blooming "Ookanzakura" cherry blossoms at Shinjuku park in Tokyo March 18, 2010.

The pale pink blossoms or "sakura" are in full bloom（盛开着花） , signaling that it's time to flock to parks across the country for picnics under the cherry trees.

At Tokyo's Yoyogi Park, people waited for hours to reserve the best spots to view the picturesque²（生动的，独特的） trees.

"I really enjoy sitting down here with my friends eating and joking around," said 17-year-old student Megumi Kohara.

These flower-viewing parties called "hanami," or "flower viewing" in Japanese, are spring traditions held among families, friends, or co-workers. Parties beneath the cherry trees can go on all day and night, especially during the weekends.

The cherry blossoms are also associated with new beginnings as the country's business and school years start on April 1.

As the blossoms -- a national obsession（痴迷，困扰） found in paintings, poetry and literature dating back（回溯，追溯） centuries -- appear only briefly³, throngs⁴ rush to catch a glimpse of them before spring rains sweep their fragile petals⁵（花瓣，翼瓣） to the ground.

Some Japanese say that the cherry blossoms' ephemeral（短暂的） nature serves as a poignant⁶（尖锐的，心酸的） reminder⁷ of how life itself is fleeting⁸（飞逝的，转瞬的） .

Unlike in many countries, it is not illegal in Japan to drink in public spaces and the hanami get-togethers involve plentiful⁹ beer and sake（日本米酒） .

"Cherry blossoms bloom for such a short period of time and then they fall off in a dramatic way and I like to enjoy them while drinking," Tsuneo Ikuhara, 65, said.