As Japan is hit hard by Covid-19, crowds are smaller and gatherings are smaller, but warnings about the epidemic are unlikely to stop the country’s people from enjoying the cherry blossom season
During two warm weekends in Tokyo, Japanese people still crowded together at famous flower viewing locations, many of them not even wearing masks.
`I come here every year. I would feel bad if I missed this opportunity. There are more people here than I thought,` Etsuo Fujisawa, a 57-year-old dentist, shared while watching the cherry blossoms bloom at the park.
Loudspeakers in Ueno Park continuously broadcast messages warning people not to gather to eat or drink, but there were still many small groups and couples sitting and eating together under the cherry tree.
At Chidorigafuchi Park, another famous flower viewing spot, many warning signs were erected asking people not to eat or drink under the trees.
Yuichiro Tanaka, a vegetable wholesaler, went with a group of friends to see the cherry blossoms despite warnings.
Tanaka said he and everyone followed some advice to prevent Covid-19.
Japanese people gathered to watch cherry blossoms bloom at Ueno park in Tokyo on March 22.
Cherry blossom season is one of Japan’s most important events, with weather forecasters always trying to guess the most accurate timing of the first flowers to bloom in major cities.
This is also an important business time of the year, when people often have short travel plans and restaurants will come up with ideas for dishes inspired by cherry blossoms.
In South Korea, where nearly 9,000 infections and more than 100 deaths due to nCoV were recorded, officials decided to erect barriers, preventing people from going to famous flower viewing locations.
`Since we cannot completely stop spring picnickers from coming here, we will close all popular cherry blossom viewing spots. This has the same effect as stopping tourists.`
Meanwhile, the Japanese government is considering lifting some restrictions, including allowing schools in some areas to reopen, even though the country has recorded more than 1,000 infections and 41 deaths.
`It’s fun to go out. It feels great,` a Japanese resident shared.