This Is How Japanese People Make a Fuss About Cherry Blossoms (Sakura) in Spring

Have you ever heard the words “The official announcement of cherry blossom flowering?”

We very often hear the words in Japan in March to April. Let me explain what it is. There are 58 sample cherry trees across Japan, and the officers of Japan Meteorological Agency check them every day this season. When they find more than five flowers bloom, the agency officially announces “cherry blossom flowering” for the area of the sample tree. TV weather news reports it point by point, and we see the announced areas expand from the south to the north on the map of Japan. The border between announced and non-announced areas is called a Sakura front (Sakura: cherry blossom in Japanese).

I know this may look ridiculous (much ado about nothing) to non-Japanese people, but we make a fuss about cherry blossom flowering every spring like this. The funny custom well shows how special cherry blossoms are for Japanese people. By the way, the announcement was issued in Tokyo yesterday (15th March 2023). Every time I hear the news of a Sakura front, I come to think Japan is not that small because we are still surrounded by snow in our hometown Hokkaido (the northernmost area of Japan). Today, I have to introduce another funny custom related to cherry blossoms in Japan. It’s a cherry-blossom viewing party.