The delicate blossoms of the cherry tree might be synonymous with the onset of spring in Japan — except this year they’re also blooming in autumn, a weather forecasting company said on Wednesday.
Experts told local media that the rare late blooms could be the result of this year’s unusual weather, including a particularly active typhoon season.
Weathernews, a meteorological firm, said more than 300 people across Japan had reported that cherry blossoms were blooming in their neighbourhood.
A series of unusually warm days after typhoons could also have confused the plants into flowering, said tree specialist Hiroyuki Wada. “This has happened in the past, but I don’t remember seeing something of this scale,” he said.
Japan has been battered by a series of typhoons this year, including Jebi, which claimed 11 lives and shut down Kansai airport in September. But Mr. Wada said the freak flowering should not affect the hugely popular cherry blossom season, which draws tourists from around the world. Japanese flock to hold ‘hanami’ picnics under the trees.
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