Tree spore frenzy

MAY 24, 2007: The last couple of days have been warm, around 25C, but the shop owners on our school's street have been trying to avoid being snowed under. More photos

It seems a certain type of tree here releases its spores once a year, all at once, like coral. Some authority or another here apparently had a brainwave about 15 years ago: "How we can make dull, ridiculous wide street interesting? I got it! Line street with exclusively that kind of tree that releases whole year's spores in space of 48 hours! Yes! People come from far and wide to see summer snow! This sure to get fuckin' Fuyu's name off Google Earth at last...we become very special...most famous!"

But the novelty of a blizzard of white fluff that gets in your eyes, ears, nose, hair and lungs wears thin after a couple of minutes. After that the attention switches to who can set fire to the biggest spore-drift. It's very satisfying, and not only because the stuff's so annoying. It's so light that when you set it alight it burns with a beautiful big orange flame and leaves no trace of anything behind. It's like the lighter in your hand becomes a zapper you can vapourise shit with. Young waiters and shopkeepers seem to lead the attack, but before long old peasants, and businessmen on mobile phones will be stooping every few seconds to light up a quick blaze.