Ohanami "Ohanami"(cherry-blossom viewing) means picnic under the cherry trees. It is a popular and much awaited event in Japan. "Sakura-zensen" means "cherry-blossom front." At approximately the end of March each year, the weather forecasts on TV and radio report where the cherry trees are blossoming. This is because the advance of warm weather from the south causes the cherry trees to blossom at different times across Japan from south to north. Under a blue warm sky in April, on comfortable days in the beginning of spring, people are enticed to see cherry blossoms. The spaces under the trees in full blossoms in the park are always the best places for our picnics. Mr. Wada, a professor of the TMIT, planned to have a picnic with the faculty and the members of the Call Study Group in the "Chuoh Kohen" (central park) near TMIT, in Hino. The light pink cherry blossoms, on the median of tree-lined street near the park, form a long beatiful tunnel underneath the blossoms along the street. Unfortunately it lasts only a week. However, driving by car through the tunnel under a flurry of falling cherry blossoms is another joy with reluctance of passing spring. Our members posed for photos. They toasted to our health and prosperity of the Call Study Group. They volunteered to cook poke "miso" soup (made from soybean paste) while enjoying a glass of beer. The friendship seemed to last many years between the members. They were enjoying "ohanami" while having "obentoh" (boxed lunch) after classes. Were they discussing politics or chatting about a nice restaurant for a delicious meal? E-mail address: callstudy@hotmail.com Tokyo, Japan April ,1999 "We love email"