“mita? sakura ga saita,” said each person as they came in, tones reverent. Did you see? The cherry flowers blossomed. All day, the office buzzed with a peculiar mix of anticipation, serenity and excitement, and wandering around the city that evening, I felt the same atmosphere on every street corner. In my head, I saw colour sweeping the country from the south. In less than three weeks, it would all be gone. I was determined to enjoy the time fully.