It has grown much warmer. The forecast high on the 3rd is 15 degrees. Lured by that air I left Palaceside Building, and the Kawazu-zakura in the front garden of the neighboring Marubeni head office, across Hakusan-dori to the east, are in full bloom — photo above.
Famous as an early cherry, Kawazu-zakura can be seen from January in the earliest places. The weather swinging warm and cold must be hard on the trees, but these Kawazu-zakura have been blooming steadily since February. Compared with Somei-yoshino, which scatter almost as soon as they open, being able to enjoy them for about a month is Kawazu-zakura’s charm. For a
while they should delight the eyes of office workers passing on the street.
The Kawazu-zakura that come up every year at this season were found by chance around 1955, sixty years ago, in Kawazu Town, Shizuoka Prefecture, then propagated and planted around the country. They are thought to be a natural cross of early Oshima-zakura and Hikan-zakura lines; the pink is deeper than Somei-yoshino.
Usually this blog leads with a photo like the one at right with Palaceside Building behind, but this year I deliberately led with Marubeni’s head office as the backdrop. It shows well against the white wall.
Why that photo? Because Marubeni’s head office is said to be rebuilt soon. There is talk that a city-planning decision may come within this fiscal year. The building was started in 1970, finished in 1972, and is 44 years old this year. For a building that still does not feel at the end of its life… And what becomes of these Kawazu-zakura?
In any case, this year is likely the last they bloom here, so if you have not seen them, do not miss them.