Authors: Chisato Tanaka, Miles Yamaguchi
Associated Press
People wearing face masks view seasonal cherry blossoms at Sumida Park in Tokyo on March 28. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
TOKYO (AP) – A week after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, people across Japan are celebrating peak cherry blossom viewing, sparking fears of a possible resurgence of the virus.
Trees are blooming in many parts of Japan this week. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, Tokyo’s peak period is March 27, attracting many people who have shunned participating in ethnic traditions for two years because of the pandemic.
At Chidorigafuchi Park, a famous “blossom viewing” or cherry blossom viewing spot northwest of the Imperial Palace, thousands of people view the fluffy pale pink flowers under rows of trees or in rowboats over the moat.
“I feel like life is finally back to normal. In the downtown area, people have been waiting for so long,” said Takanori Shiwaku, a 62-year-old cafe owner, while admiring the park’s flowers.
He said the cherry blossoms were blooming and falling, symbolizing a pure feeling.
“I definitely want to be here this year, and I’m really happy,” said Midori Hayashi, a 75-year-old retiree who has spent most of the past two years at home.
Cherry blossoms or “cherry blossoms” are Japan’s most popular flowers and usually peak in late March to early April, just as Japan celebrates the start of a new school year and a new business year.
At many parks, this year spectators were asked not to gather under trees for receptions — a traditional way to celebrate the season — as part of ongoing antiviral measures.
Tokyo reported 7,846 new cases on March 29, more than double the 3,533 a week earlier, attributed to the new omicron subvariable.Nationwide, Japan recorded 29,740 new cases on March 28, a slight increase from the previous week, bringing the country’s total to about 6.4 million, with about 28,000 deaths
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said the increase highlighted “the popularity of the BA.2 sub-variant of omicron, which is replacing existing variants at a significant rate.”
