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TOKYO – Japan’s early spring is drawing cherry blossom fans to Tokyo’s parks, but the government has urged people to limit traditional festivities to prevent a resurgence of COVID-19 infections.
The flowers known as “sakura” were in full bloom on Tuesday, almost two weeks earlier than usual. The “hanami” tradition generally draws crowds of people to the parks to sit under the cherry trees for picnics, singing and drinking.
People in masks walked the perimeter of the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo, taking pictures and posing for selfies among the trees.
“A lot of people came here today to see the cherry blossoms because the news yesterday reported that they would be in full bloom,” said Mieko Ozawa, a Tokyo resident in her 70s.
In a video speech on Monday, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike stopped short of telling people not to go out to enjoy the flowers, but asked that they keep up the hanami activities to “just watch.”
Tokyo and three surrounding prefectures emerged from a declared state of emergency on Sunday just after the New Year when a third wave of COVID-19 infections brought the medical system to the brink of collapse. Under the emergency, the government asked businesses to close early and for citizens to work from home and limit meetings.
Daily new infections reached 337 in Tokyo on Tuesday, down from the 2,520 peak on January 7, but too high for the government to completely relax its stance.
Many parks in the capital region prohibit hanami, and some erect temporary fences to prevent people from gathering near the trees.
“Since it’s outside, I think it’s fine as long as it’s not crowded,” said Hideo Mizutani, 73. “Of course we have to be more careful.” -Reuters
