Cherry-blossom season arrives earlier than expected as experts link the phenomenon to climate change. People look at cherry blossoms at Inokashira Park in Tokyo
Japan’s cherry trees are reaching full bloom in record time this year, the national weather agency has said, linking the early Sakura season to the world’s warming climate.
In the ancient capital of Kyoto, cherry blossoms hit their peak on March 26, about 10 days sooner than average and the earliest since the government started recording in 1953.
“Our studies have shown that the start of cherry blossom season is closely linked with the average temperature in February and March,” said Shunji Ambe, a Japan Meteorological Agency official.
