1m 56s: Lenght

This pale pink bloom means one thing in Japan: Spring is on its way. Here, cherry blossom symbolizes the transcience of life. The flowers attract hundreds of people to one of the best viewing spots in Tokyo. For Ueno Park's visitors, the cherry trees are a cause for celebration. And a source of national pride. [Cherry Blossom Observer]: "Cherry blossoms are like a national trademark, and that's something that all Japanese can be proud of." [Cherry Blossom Observer]: "It's really beautiful." [Cherry Blossom Observer]: "Cherry blossom viewing is like a New Year's celebration. It's almost mandatory, and without it we'd never feel the end to a long winter." Every March 'cherry-blossom-viewing' parties last throughout the day and well into the night. In all parts of the country, the national flower's colourful show is big news. Media outlets chart the progress of the cherry trees' flowering across the Japanese archipelago. Sawako Konda is a dedicated cherry blossom forecaster. She works around the clock compiling cherry blossom-related data sent to them each day by local residents. [Sawako Konda, Cherry Blossom Forecaster]: "Based on our 30 years of data, cherry blossoms in Japan have been blooming much earlier for the past 5 years. We announce when the cherry trees will go into bloom, based on our weather forecasting data, as we've been monitoring over 14,000 cherry trees across the nation." As well as broadcasting daily blossom predictions, the forecasting agency uploads up-to-date information on their website. It includes a map simulating how and when trees across the country will reach full bloom. The site attracts over eighty million daily visitors. Cherry blossom is a serious business in Japan. It's a poignant reminder of the shortness of life. And a brief spectacle that must be enjoyed, before the fragile leaves that make it, wither away for another year.