Tokyo had April-like warmth this weekend, but cold is expected to return in the first half of this week. Weather still changes on a short cycle at this time of year, yet spring is steadily approaching, and the Kawazu cherry trees in front of the Marubeni head office next to the Palaceside Building are already close to full bloom.
Known as an early-blooming cherry, Kawazu-zakura is thought to be a natural cross of Kanhi-zakura and Oshima-zakura; the original tree was found in the wild. It was transplanted around 1955 to Kawazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, hence the name. The blossoms are relatively large, about 3.5 centimeters across, and a deeper pink than Somei-yoshino, so they look festive.
When will Somei-yoshino, also Tokyo's prefectural flower, bloom? According to the Japan Weather Association's cherry-blossom forecast issued on the 16th, blooming this year looks set to be around normal or earlier nationwide. The cherry front is expected to start on March 19 in Fukuoka and Kochi, reach Tokyo on the 22nd, and cover a wide area from Kyushu to Kanto by the end of March. An uplifting spring is almost here.