Beside its fame to be the National Flower of Japan, SAKURA (cherry)
is widely loved by Japanese. In spring, you can easily find people enjoying
HANAMI, or cherry blossom viewing, gathering under the cherry trees.
Many companies, government and school start their fiscal year in April,
party of cherry blossom viewing is often used as a welcoming freshers.
People are very keen to check Sakura blooming forecast on TV and
newspaper, for its peak are very short for about one week and
different from area to area. In Kyusyu, the southern part of Japan,
from the end of March to the beginning of April are
best season although almost one month later in Hokkaido,
the top North area. According to forecast, cherry will flower
in mid-March around Tokyo in this year.