Hanami, which means “flower viewing” in Japanese, is    1     country’s tradition of enjoying the beauty of cherry blossom. Every year, from the end of March to the start of May, families and friends gather     2     (see) cherry blossom (called sakura) bloom all over Japan.

The history of Hanami dates back to around AD 710. Back then, it was plum blossom that people admired rather than cherry blossom. Emperor Saga, who     3     (rule) from 809 to 823, was the first to hold a viewing party for cherry blossom after he saw a tree he liked in Kyoto. In the 16th century, a leader called Hideyoshi Toyotomi brought Hanami to the     4     (mass) by planting hundreds of cherry trees across the country. Once the cherry trees are in bloom it’s a race     5     time to see them because the blossom is soon carried away by the wind. The short life span of the flowers is     6     (center) to Hanami and the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, which is a     7     (celebrate) of nature and its imperfections.

Today, Hanami involves     8     (gather) underneath trees for picnics and parties. Companies often send out junior members of staff to save a good spot for others. People     9     (advise) not to sit near a pavement because of the large crowds that gather throughout the day. Some people bring heat packs to keep themselves warm. Parks have strict rules about     10     people can sit and when, and everyone is expected to clean up after themselves.