The countdown began on January 10, when experts from Japan's private weather company JMA issued alert number 1. A pink cloud will spread like wildfire across the country, rising from south to north between March 20 and April 30. The first explosion is expected in the Nagoya region, while Sapporo will be hit five weeks later. On its website, JMA informs that it will "provide updates in due course," as Sakura is under close surveillance. The blossoming of its cherry trees is a phenomenon of the utmost importance in Japan, capable of moving crowds and highly symbolic.
"We wait for it for weeks, then it suddenly arrives, explodes and goes away," said Yoko Nakamura, a Japanese fashion and lifestyle consultant based in France. "It's like an allegory of life, reminding us that it's beautiful, short and that we have to make the most of it." In the Japanese archipelago, on D-day, trainees are instructed to go and reserve a place under a somei yoshino, a Prunus yedoensis hybrid cherry tree. "In the evening, their teams join them for a picnic and a party," said the consultant. If it's windy, a shower of petals covers the tablecloths on the ground.
In Paris, Tomoji Hakuno, manager of Aoyama Flower Market on the Rue du Bac, buys branches as early as the end of February. They arrive in bud, opening white or pink, depending on the variety. But that's not what interests him. In both cases, "they bring out all the colors," he said, as he brings presents lemon-yellow, orange, fuchsia and lime-green Gerberas. He continues the demonstration with tulips and ranunculus: "Cherry goes well with all bulbous flowers. It's a good base but it also looks good on its own or alongside a sprig of gooseberry."
In Japanese, the Parisian florist evokes mist, blur and weather images that are difficult to translate, then approaches a twig and slides his finger along the bark without a glance for the flowers at the end. "You have to leave the stems visible and airy. They're what give the line, the silhouette," he said. They can then transform a bouquet by changing its orientation just a little.
Preferred area Well-drained, rather acidic soils, southwest-facing if possible.
Maintenance Remove dead wood.
Flowering March-April, depending on temperatures from the previous autumn.
Loves Warm, sunny days, and also cool nights.
Dislikes Cool winds.
Translation of an original article published in French on lemonde.fr; the publisher may only be liable for the French version.