Many iconic Somei Yoshino cherry blossom trees in Tokyo, planted in the 1960s, are now old and frail, with some collapsing and others requiring support, leading to public safety fears.

Covered by a high-pressure system, the 16th saw clear skies and rising temperatures across a wide area from Tokai to Okinawa/Amami. The blooming of Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms was announced in Gifu City and Kochi City, marking the earliest in the nation.

The Somei Yoshino cherry trees are predicted to begin flowering up to a week earlier than usual, with blooms expected to start on March 17 in Nagoya before spreading to other regions of Japan.