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<td width="50%" class="newslettertitle">SPRING IN JAPAN! </td>
<td width="50%" class="volumedate">VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1, MARCH 17, 2005 </td>
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<br><center><img src="http://www.thejapaneseconnection.com/images/horizontal_rule.jpg" width="520" height="3"></center><br>
CHERRY BLOSSOM FEVER HITS JAPAN</td>
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<td width="33%"><img src="http://www.thejapaneseconnection.com/images/Cherry%20swirl.jpg" width="165" height="147"></td>
<td colspan="67%"><div class="body">Every year, the coming of Spring in Japan heralds the return of cherry blossoms that for six or
eight weeks spread like a scented blanket of white and pink velvet from the Southern tip of Okinawa to the Northern
points of Hokkaido. The slow movement of the cherry blossoms opening from South to North is watched vigorously
every year by the Japanese populace. Japanese television news broadcasts note that “the flowers are early in
Okinawa this year.” or “the late rain in Kyoto took its toll on the flowers there this year.” Newspapers run front...<br></div>
<div class="link"><a href="http://www.thejapaneseconnection.com/newsletters/newsletter_3-17-05_destination.htm">View Entire Article</a></div> </td>
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<td class="articletitle"><br><center><img src="http://www.thejapaneseconnection.com/images/horizontal_rule.jpg" width="520" height="3"></center><br>LIST OF CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVALS IN JAPAN</td>
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<div class="body"><strong>Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival</strong><br>
Motobu, Okinawa … The year’s first cherry blossom festival. <br>
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<strong>Kumamoto Castle Cherry Blossom Festival</strong><br>
Kumamoto Ciy, Kumamoto … Over 600 cherry trees in bloom.<br>
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<strong>Tateyama Park Cherry Blossom Festival</strong><br>
Nagasaki City, Nagasaki … Over 700 cherry trees in bloom.<br>
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<strong>Okajo Koen Cherry Blossom Festival</strong><br>
Takeda City, Saga ... Over 2500 cherry trees in bloom. Truly a cherry blossom viewing hotspot! <br>
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<strong>Kochi Koen Cherry Blossom Festival</strong><br>
Kochi City, Kochi ... Over 300 cherry trees in bloom. <br></div>
<div class="link"><a href="http://www.thejapaneseconnection.com/newsletters/newsletter_3-17-05_destination.htm">View Complete List</a></div> </td>
<td width="67%"><img src="http://www.thejapaneseconnection.com/images/forecast.gif" width="400" height="387"><br>
<center><div class="caption">Estimated Dates of Cherry Tree Blossoming by Japanese Region</div></center>
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<td class="articletitle"><br><center><img src="http://www.thejapaneseconnection.com/images/horizontal_rule.jpg" width="520" height="3"></center><br>HAIKU ENTHUSIASTS SUBMIT YOUR HAIKU TO THE HAIKU INN...
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<td align="center" width="33%"><img src="http://www.thejapaneseconnection.com/images/basho.jpg" width="85" height="114"><br>
<span class="caption">Basho Composing Haiku</span> </td>
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<div class="body"><em>How many, many things<br>
They bring to mind --<br>
Cherry blossoms!<br>
<br>
-Basho</em><br>
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The Japanese Connection is now accepting <a href="http://www.thejapaneseconnection.com/haiku/haiku.htm">Haiku</a> poem submissions from you! Our new section,
called the Haiku Inn is a forum for free, poetic expression. If you like to craft these 17 syllable
poems, please feel free to submit one and post it, whether it is humorous, serious, or bizarre;
we want to hear from you. Feel free to join in with your poetic voice!<br>
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<div class="link"><a href="http://www.thejapaneseconnection.com/haiku/haiku.htm">Visit the Haiku Inn</a></div></td>
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<br><center><img src="http://www.thejapaneseconnection.com/images/horizontal_rule.jpg" width="520" height="3"></center><br>
<div class="articletitle">INTERESTED IN DISCUSSING JAPAN WITH OTHERS?</div>
<div class="link"><a href="http://www.thejapaneseconnection.com/phpBB2/index.php">Have a look at the Japanese Connection Discussion Forum...</a></div><br><br>
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To remove your name from our mailing list, please email us at: <br>
tomaru@thejapaneseconnection.com<br>
You are currently listed in our database as: apakabar@polarhome.com
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