‘Well, if all it involves is eating, drinking and relaxing under cherry blossom trees, Akiko, then this is the best hanami party I have ever been to!’ replied Jack.

‘It’s much more than that, Jack!’ admonished Akiko, with a good-natured smile.

‘You’re starting to sound like Sensei Yamada with one of his koan!’ replied Jack light-heartedly, and they all laughed.

‘Seriously, though, hanami is very important to us,’ said Akiko. ‘The cherry blossom marks the start of the riceplanting season and we use the flowering to divine the success of the harvest. Judging by the fullness of the blossom already, this year will be a good year.’

‘The blossom also signals a beginning, a new stage in life,’ added Kiku, ‘so we make offerings to the gods who live inside the trees. See those samurai over there?’

‘Yes,’ said Jack, peering over at three samurai who were sprawled around the base of a cherry blossom tree. They were passing an extremely large ceramic bottle between them and appeared heavily intoxicated from drinking its contents.

‘They have made the traditional offering of saké to the sakura and are now partaking of the offering.’

‘What’s saké?’ asked Jack.

‘Rice wine!’ said Saburo buoyantly. ‘Want to try some?’

‘All right,’ said Jack, though he was hesitant after noticing Akiko’s disapproving look.

Saburo ran over to the drunken samurai and quickly returned with a wooden box-shaped cup brimming with a clear liquid. He offered some to Jack.

Jack took a swig. The saké tasted sweet and watery, but as he swallowed it became sharper and more potent. He hacked as the saké burnt the back of his throat.

‘What do you think?’ said Saburo eagerly.

‘Well, it’s not as rough as the drink on-board ship, but I’ll stick to water if you don’t mind.’

Saburo shrugged indifferently, finishing off the rest of the cup in one gulp. He went to return the cup to the samurai, only to come back with another full one. He offered it to the girls this time.

‘Saburo, you know we’re not allowed saké,’ scolded Kiku.

Saburo ignored her and merrily sipped the entire contents on his own.

They spent the rest of the day relaxing under their tree, occasionally dipping their toes into the cool waters of the Kamogawa, Saburo getting the occasional refill of saké.

As the sun began to set, paper lanterns were lit and hung from the branches of the sakura trees, floating like glowing fruit above the walkways. With dusk settling in, it was time for them to return to the Niten Ichi Ryū.

‘So, Jack,’ asked Akiko, ‘what do you think of the blossom now?’

‘Beautiful but brief like life,’ said Jack, echoing Uekiya’s words.

‘No! Fleeting like a woman’s beauty!’ blurted Saburo, the excess of saké having gone to his head. His legs collapsed beneath him as he tried to stand. Kiku and Yori helped him back up.