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Start of Cherry Blossom Season Marks Festive Mood in Japan
TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s cherry blossom season has officially begun, as confirmed by the nation’s official cherry blossom observers on Monday. The announcement heralds the arrival of spring festivities across the Japanese capital.
An expert from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) inspected the Somei Yoshino cherry tree situated at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. The evaluation revealed that the tree had over five blooms—a criterion necessary for declaring the start of the blooming season.
This year’s blooming aligns with the historical averages, appearing five days earlier than the previous year’s occurrence, as stated by the JMA.
The cherry blossom, known as “sakura,” holds a special place in Japanese culture. These delicate flowers typically reach their full bloom between late March and early April, coinciding with the commencement of the new academic and business year. During this time, many people relish the opportunity to leisurely stroll or picnic under the trees.
Sakura has significantly impacted Japanese artistic expression, frequently appearing in poetry and literature. Their ephemeral nature is often viewed as a metaphor for the cycles of life, encompassing themes of mortality and renewal.
The declaration from Tokyo follows a previous announcement on Sunday, which confirmed the blooming of the country’s first cherry blossom in the southern city of Kochi on the island of Shikoku.
The JMA monitors over 50 designated cherry trees nationwide, noting that the flowering typically extends for about two weeks, from initial bud to the eventual drop of petals. They anticipate that the blossoms will reach their peak within the next ten days.
Cherry trees are responsive to temperature variations, and their blooming patterns can offer critical insights into climate change. Observations in recent years suggest that Japan’s cherry blossom season has increasingly occurred earlier than historical averages, raising alarms regarding potential climate change impacts.
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