Hanami ceremony celebrates blossom

Celebrating spring outside the University of Otago registry building yesterday are (from left) Siobhan Downes, Cindy To, Yurika Teramura, Mika Umeda and Lucy Morris. They each wore a kimono to a hanami festival organised by the Otago University Japanese Association. Hanami is the ancient Japanese custom of enjoying the beauty of blossoming cherry and plum trees. Traditional Japanese drums and koto (harps) were played and sushi was served to about 100 people gathered for the afternoon ceremony.