As May dawns, we’re now well into springtime in Japan. The cherry blossoms might be fading, but you can relive those petal-filled moments by reading the stories of ALTs experiencing their first hanami across the country, or attending unique festivals ranging from big and famous to small and local. Another article reminds us that sakura aren’t the only beautiful seasonal flowers worth checking out. Apart from the beautiful nature of the season, spring is the perfect time to reinvigorate your hobbies. We also have articles on moviegoing, street fashion, and cooking, as well as writeups on returning to old JET placements and some insights into the LGBTQ experience in Japan. There’s all this and more in the newest issue of Connect. Enjoy!