Friday, April 1：The AIRA Japanese language evening class is usually held at Civic Plaza every Friday evening. However, we thought it would be fun to hold the class outside for the first time.

　　　Date/Time: Friday, April 1, 2016 2:00p.m.- 3:30p.m.

　　　Venue: Teganuma Park

　　　Participants: 3 students and a child, 5 volunteer teachers (Osaki, Aburano, Kaku, Komiyama, Tagoshi)

Two Chinese girls, high school and junior high school students, and an Iranian man with a three-year-old boy joined the party.

Unfortunately, the weather was a little cold and windy, and the cherry blossoms were far from being in full bloom contrary to some other areas. Despite those minor drawbacks, we still managed to enjoy looking at some of the early blossoms while we drank hot coffee and ate some snacks.

It was definitely a little early for viewing Sakura at its best, but we could sense the arrival of spring in the air as we talked and enjoyed each other’s company.

(No. 16-1 Translated by M. Kaku)