TOKYO, March 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Tokyo's meteorologists declared the start 
of the much-loved cherry blossom season in the Japanese capital on Thursday, 
as residents prepare to host outdoor picnics under dazzling floral displays.

The cherry season for Tokyo starts when the official sample tree at Yasukuni 
Shrine opens at least five flowers.

"Today, the blooming of the Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms was observed," the 
Tokyo Regional Headquarters of the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said in 
an eagerly-awaited statement, referring to the most common cherry variety.

Since early Thursday morning, local broadcasters had repeatedly shown dozens 
of open flowers on the tree.

To make it official, a duo of suit-clad officials from the weather agency 
stepped in front of dozens of spectators and theatrically counted and pointed 
to open flowers.

Then they carefully walked around the tree for a closer look and consulted 
among themselves in front of national media and spectators.

After a few minutes, one of them said they had found 61 open flowers.

"Tokyo's cherry trees came into bloom," he told the crowd, prompting 
applause.

The JMA said the blooming was five days earlier than the average, March 24, 
which was last year's arrival date.

The early blooming came as Tokyo experienced warmer-than-usual weather since 
mid-February, a weather agency official told AFP.

The earliest recorded date for cherry blossom blooming in Tokyo is March 14, 
which occurred three times in 2020, 2021 and 2023, the JMA said.

One spectator at Yasukuni Shrine, 30-year-old Taira Toru, a public official, 
said the start of the cherry season offered hope at a time of war.

"It's something that happens every year, but with the situation in Iran right 
now... the world is in turmoil, and with spring having come, I really hope 
that peace will come again."