HO CULTURE
From flowering trees to the food packed for an outing.
Blossoms give people a reason to head out.
Sakura is the Japanese collective name for flowering cherries and their blossoms. These rose-family trees include wild species and cultivated forms selected for their flowers and growth habits. Somei-yoshino is one cultivar within this diversity.
Hanami brings observation and social activity around flowering trees. In Japan it commonly evokes spring cherry blossom, but a walk, a visit to one old tree, a picnic and a large organised event are different experiences. The variety and the timing of bloom shape each outing.
A packed meal and rice made easy to carry.
Bento is a meal arranged in a box for carrying or individual serving. It may be made at home, bought ready to eat or served at a restaurant. Rice and side dishes are common, but bento names describe many different menus, containers and occasions.
Onigiri are portions of cooked rice gathered into a shape that can be picked up. They may contain a filling, have ingredients mixed through the rice, or be wrapped in nori. A triangle is one familiar form; round and barrel-shaped versions belong to the same family.