Imagine an entire old folks home on sake. That's what living on this island has been like ever since the cherry blossoms opened up. The first cherry-blossom viewing started last Sunday and the party hasn't stopped.
So many people come to Shiraishi Island to view the cherry blossoms at Shimei Shrine, located in the side of the mountain, that this year they've strung lanterns for nighttime viewing as well.
I think the reason people here party so much is that they're old. They've worked hard their whole lives and when they turned 60, they had a Eureka moment: "My God, we're gonna die some day!" And they decided to take control of their lives and to live life to the fullest. There is never a dull moment in the pursuit of life on this island.