While thousands of Tokyoites safely enjoyed "hanami" (cherry blossom viewing) parties last weekend, 74 people in the metropolis ended up in the hospital over the weekend after abusing alcohol, the Tokyo Fire Department said Monday.
In all, 110 people in Tokyo were taken by ambulance to hospitals for alcohol poisoning between March 31 — the officially start of the hanami season in Tokyo — and Monday morning, the fire department said.
While 23 were hospitalized, none of the cases was judged severe, the fire department said. About half of the victims, or 52 people, were in their 20s, while the oldest was an eightysomething man, it said.