Hanami time in Niigata Japan 2007

Having a picnic under the cherry blossoms is a popular spring past time in Japan. It is called "hanami" in Japanese which literally means, "flower viewing". However the main event is not looking so much at the cherry blossoms but rather eating a Japanese box lunch under them.

This is a typical Japanese take out meal called "obento" in Japanese. This box is made of plastic but sometimes it's made of wood. The serving is usually a balanced combination of protein, starch and vegetables. The Japanese eat a very healthy diet!