Top > What's up around the Prime Minister > April, 2006

Prime Minister Hosts Cherry Blossom Viewing Party Saturday, April 15, 2006 JAPANESE Click photographs to enlarge Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi hosted the annual cherry blossom viewing party at the Shinjuku Gyoen in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo. The event was lively with approximately 11,000 guests from political and business circles, and cultural and sporting figures. In his address, Prime Minister Koizumi said, "Despite concerns about the weather, it looks like today will turn out to be a pleasant day with no rain in the forecast. I cannot say it is a perfectly bright and clear day, but the sun has been coming out. It is the typical semi-cloudy weather of the cherry blossom season. I guess I am lucky because the weather is just right for viewing the blossoms. I believe everybody here is lucky too. I have been able to enjoy cherry blossom viewing for the fifth time since I took office as Prime Minister. The double cherry blossoms are now in full bloom. We have only a short time today, but I would be happy if you could relax and relieve the daily fatigue you may be experiencing from your work. There is a Japanese poem that reads, 'If know the right time to vanish from the world, flowers are truly flowers and people are truly people.' Flowers and blossoms would not be beautiful if they were always in bloom. They are beautiful because their petals scatter at once. For people, too, the timing to leave is important. The timing to withdraw is important. I, too, will stand by the timing to withdraw and the timing to leave, while striving to do my best throughout my term, without fleeing the responsibilities and duties of Prime Minister." After his address, Prime Minister Koizumi chatted with the guests and joined in their photographs. View Video (Available only in Japanese) Real(Narrowband) / Real(Broadband) Windows Media(Narrowband) / Windows Media(Broadband)