Japan’s cherry trees bloomed on their first date in 1,200 years, a sign of climate change

Japan’s famous cherry blossoms peaked in many places earlier this year than at any time since official records began nearly 70 years ago, and experts say the most likely cause is the climate change.

Some say this is the first peak of flowering in history, based on the archive of historical documents, diaries and books of poetry from Kyoto. Yasuyuki Aono, an environmental specialist from Osaka Prefectural University, who follows these documents, said that the first blooms he found before this year were on March 27 in the years 1612, 1409 and 1236, although there is no record of some years.

Japan’s favorite flower, called “sakura”, used to peak in April, as the country celebrates the start of its new school and business year. However, that date has moved on and now most years the flowers disappear before the first day of school.

It is believed that the last time peak flowering was reached on March 26 was AD 812. In the former capital Kyoto, the oldest since the Japan Meteorological Agency began collecting data in 1953 and 10 days earlier than the 30-year average was recorded on Friday. Similar records were set this year in more than a dozen cities across Japan.

“You could say that probably due to the impact of global warmingSaid Shunji Anbe, an official in the observations division of the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The agency keeps track of 58 “benchmark” cherry trees throughout the country, and this year 40 of them have already reached their maximum flowering and 14 have done so in record time. Trees typically flower for about two weeks per year, from the first bud to flowering.

Cherry trees are sensitive to temperature changes and the timing of their flowering can provide valuable data for climate change studies, Anbe said.

According to agency data, The average temperature in March in Kyoto rose to 10.6 ° C in 2020, compared to 8.6 ° C in 1953. So far, the average temperature in March of this year in Japan has been 12.4 ° C.

The sakura has deeply influenced Japanese culture for centuries and has been used regularly in poetry and literature, its fragility being seen as a symbol of life, death and rebirth.

(With information from AFP)

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