Cherry flowers bloomed in Kochi, southwestern Japan, on March 23, becoming the first cherry blossoms confirmed in the country for the second straight year.

The start of cherry flowering is announced when at least five or six flowers have bloomed on a Yoshino specimen tree.

S/ Kochi Local Meteorological Office official / I was able to confirm more than 5 or 6 flowers in bloom, so I declare that flowering has begun.

More than 20 flowers were seen on the tree at Kochi Castle's Sannomaru Palace as temperatures warmed up for the second day in a row.

There were no flowers on the tree the previous day.

This year's cherry blossom announcement came one day later than usual and on the same day as in 2024.

S/ Visitor / I'm happy to be the first in Japan to see cherry blossoms. It feels like spring has come, so I want to go cherry blossom viewing.

Known as Somei-yoshino in Japan, the Yoshino cherry trees at Kochi Castle are expected to reach full bloom in about a week.