Last week PlatinumGames held its annual company-wide hanami party. Although the name literally means “flower-viewing,” in reality hanami events are really an excuse to spend time together in the warm spring air, eat delicious food, and enjoy adult beverages. We accomplished all these things last Friday!

Timing the date for hanami is notoriously difficult. A single week can decide whether you get a view of beautiful pink petals, or bare branches. Although we missed full bloom by a couple days, thankfully the trees in Osaka Castle Park were still a sight to behold.

The high-rises of downtown Osaka are juxtaposed with the castle. Going to work every day in the futuristic Umeda Sky Building, it is easy to forget we are so close to this historical landmark.

Hanami gives everyone a chance to mingle with people from around the company, free from the constraints of their office seating plan. Here are Hideki Kamiya, Kenji Saito, and Yusuke Hashimoto; the three directors share a lively chat with their colleagues.

It is considered poor manners in Japan to make others pour their own drinks. Everyone makes sure their colleagues’ cups stay full and, if they’re lucky, will get the same treatment in return.

As expected, President Minami sits surrounded by the rest of the company. Employees take turns kissing his ring and pledging their allegiance for another year. (Just kidding, but everyone is expected to say hi and share a drink or two.)

It is the job of first and second year employees to set up the party before the senior employees arrive.

Before

After

After the hanami, employees drop all flower viewing pretenses, and head to bars to keep the party going. Recharged, we are back in the office on Monday to keep doing what we love: making games!