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Japan: Cherry Blossoms Came Early This Year Due To Climate Change

Cherry blossoms in Japan
Japan cherry blossoms [Image by Sung-Chan Kim on Pixabay]
Recently, Japan announced that it was running a “test tourism” trial, welcoming small groups of international travelers. However, anyone that was hoping to enjoy the country’s cherry blossoms has lost out. It turns out the cherry trees blossomed early this year, likely due to manmade climate change.

Crowds flock to Japan to experience the country’s iconic cherry blossoms each spring. In fact, the country has revered the amazing display of pink and white blossoms for more than 1,000 years. However, this year, the world-famous “sakura” trees are flowering much earlier than normal across Japan. According to a new study, this is likely due to human-induced climate change.

Cherry blossoms came early to Japan

The study was run by researchers of the Met Office in the UK and Osaka Metropolitan University in Japan. As a result of the study, the experts said that between them, the climate crisis and urban warming have caused the “peak bloom” flowering period to be pushed forward by 11 days.

In fact, in the central city of Kyoto, the cherry blossoms peaked on March 26. However, in 2021, the cherry blossoms burst into full color on April 1. Reportedly, this is the earliest full flowering date in 1,200 years. In Tokyo, the blossoms peaked on March 22, the second earliest on record.

The scientists published their findings in the journal Environment Research Letters on May 20. They added that extreme early flowering is becoming more common and believe it is a symptom of the climate crisis as a whole.

March temperatures increase in Japan

Meanwhile, these earlier peak cherry blossom blooms coincide with rising temperatures in Japan. In fact, Kyoto’s city center has seen average March temperatures increase by several degrees since pre-industrial times. The scientists warn that this is a result of both climate change and urban warming.

The change is partly due to increased urbanization and cities tend to be warmer than rural areas. This is due to the fact that the buildings and roads absorb the sun’s heat more than in rural landscapes. Apparently, this phenomenon is dubbed the heat island effect. However, the researchers also put most of the blame on the climate crisis. In fact, it is known that the burning of fossil fuels causes rising temperate across Japan and the world.

The study found that should planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions continue, the cherry blossom bloom in Kyoto could happen even earlier. In fact, CNN notes that scientists believe that by then, the blossoms will come a week earlier.

Human-induced climate change and cherry blossoms

Cherry blossoms in Japan
Cherry blossoms [Image by yamabon on Pixabay]
The lead author and Met Office climate scientist, Dr. Nikos Christidos wrote about the phenomenon.

“Our research shows that not only have human-induced climate change and urban warming already impacted the flowering dates of cherry blossom in Kyoto, but that extremely early flowering dates, as in 2021, are now estimated to be 15 times more likely, and are expected to occur at least once a century.”

Christidis added that by 2100, such events are projected to happen every few years and at that stage, will no longer be considered to be extreme.

Early blooming has wider ramifications

Besides the sign of climate change and urban warming, earlier blooming has wider ramifications for Japan’s economy and ecology. In fact, this is a symptom of the larger climate crisis threatening ecosystems everywhere in the world.

Contributing author Yasuyuki Aono, from Osaka Metropolitan University, explained that the spring cherry blossoms are a culturally significant event in Japan. In fact, the spring festivals that surround the cherry blossoms are an important contributor to the country’s economy. In fact, to be able to predict the blooming is critical.

Meanwhile, the peak bloom period lasts only a few days, when hanami (flower viewing) is a popular activity in Japan. Locals and visitors alike often enjoy picnics beneath the cherry trees. While local businesses are known to offer special set meals and products during the event.

Why do early cherry blossoms matter?

According to scientists, it isn’t just a matter of visitors rushing to catch the peak bloom before the petals fall. They believe the earlier bloom could have a lasting impact on entire ecosystems. In fact, this could threaten the survival of many species.

The study points out that the impact of rising temperatures on nature’s calendar leads to trickle-down effects on land management practices and farming in Japan. Moreover, the warming further impacts other plants, animals and insects, all of which rely on each other for their development and life cycles. By changing the cycle, a chain reaction could occur, causing damage to ecosystems.

Bee on cherry blossoms
Bee on cherry blossoms [Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians on Pixabay]
Meanwhile, the change in flowering dates isn’t limited to Japan. In parts of the United Kingdom, spring came early and climate change is causing plants across the UK to flower on average a month earlier. Moreover, in Spain right at this moment, some areas are already experiencing summer temperatures, which is unheard of in the country.

Meanwhile, due to the same phenomenon, many crops and economically valuable plants are posing problems for farmers’ livelihoods and food security.

Obviously. the early blooming of Japan’s cherry blossoms can also impact travelers’ plans to visit Japan for the incredible floral display. How can you book ahead when you don’t know when it will happen?