Meteorologists in Japan have declared the start of the much-loved cherry blossom season in Tokyo, as residents prepare to host outdoor picnics under dazzling floral displays.
It begins when the official sample tree, at Yasukuni Shrine in the city, 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.
Broadcasters have 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 the 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, 24 March, 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 said.
The earliest recorded date for cherry blossom blooming in Tokyo is 14 March, 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."
