Every year, in April, the cherry trees are in bloom in Japan (East Asia). This natural phenomenon attracts millions of Japanese and tourists from all over the world. Sakura, the name given to cherry trees, are adorned with pale pink flowers. The ritual of admiring cherry blossoms in Japan is called hanami. In Japanese, hanami means "to look at the flowers". This custom is also a social ritual. There are rules: the younger members of the family arrive early in the morning, lay a tablecloth on the grass, guard the place, and wait for their elders to arrive. During this period, the Japanese prepare many pastries and cakes flavored with sakura blossom.