On Sunday, March 14, the first flowers appeared at Yasukuni Shrine on the old sakura tree, by which the meteorological service determines the start of blooming each year.

Heavy rain and strong winds are being replaced by a warm front - yesterday it was +18 in Tokyo. Today and tomorrow we are promised +20 degrees Celsius - true April weather!

This time, the first sakura of the Somei-Yoshino variety in Tokyo bloomed 12 days earlier than the annual average. But it should be recalled that last year the blossoming started on the same day. Yesterday, five or six blossoms were recorded on the tree at Yasukuni Shrine.

While the Japanese are wondering if the parks will be open to admire the beauty, as mass picnics under sakura trees were banned in 2020 due to the pandemic and the imposition of a state of emergency, and even major parks like Ueno were closed.