Typhoons have ‘tricked’ Japanese cherry blossoms into arriving several months before schedule
More than 350 reports of premature blossoms have been reported, starting on the southwestern island of Kyushu and continuing across the archipelago as far north as Hokkaido
The arrival of Japan’s famed cherry blossoms is the cue for groups of office workers to eat and drink, cast off their inhibitions and ponder the transient nature of life against a backdrop of pale pink petals falling to the ground.
But the nationally observed rite of spring has come early, with reports from hundreds of locations that the country’s beloved sakura are blooming several months ahead of schedule.
The Weathernews website said it had received more than 350 reports of premature blossoms, starting on the southwestern island of Kyushu and continuing across the archipelago as far north as Hokkaido.
Experts said the flowers’ surprise appearance was probably linked to extreme weather events in Japan in recent weeks, including two particularly powerful typhoons.
Hiroyuki Wada, a tree doctor at the Flower Association of Japan, said the violent storms had stripped many trees of their leaves. One purpose of the leaves is to release hormones that prevent buds from flowering ahead of time.
