People wearing face masks stroll under Cherry blossom in full bloom at the Zojoji temple in Tokyo Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
The Associated Press
TOKYO (AP) - People across Japan are celebrating the peak cherry blossom viewing season one week after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, triggering concerns of a possible virus resurgence.
Trees are in full bloom this week in many parts of Japan. The peak in Tokyo was on Sunday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, attracting many people who had avoided participating in the national tradition for two years because of the pandemic.
At Chidorigafuchi Park, a famous 'œhanami'ť or cherry blossom viewing spot northwest of the Imperial Palace, thousands of people viewed the fluffy pale pink flowers while strolling under rows of trees or from rowboats on the palace moat.
'œI feel like life has finally gotten back to normal. Here in the downtown area, people have waited for this for so long,'ť Takanori Shiwaku, a 62-year-old café owner, said as he admired the blossoms at the park.
He said cherry blossoms, which bloom and then fall en masse, connote a sense of pureness.
'œI wanted to come here for sure this year, and I'm really happy,'ť said Midori Hayashi, a 75-year-old retiree who has largely stayed at home for the past two years.
Cherry blossoms, or 'œsakura,'ť are Japan's favorite flower and usually reach their peak in late March to early April, just as the country celebrates the start of a new school and business year.
At many parks, viewers were requested this year not to gather under the trees for drinking parties - a traditional way of celebrating the season - as part of continuing anti-virus measures.
Tokyo reported 7,846 new cases on Tuesday, more than twice the 3,533 a week earlier, in a resurgence attributed to the new omicron subvariant. Nationwide, Japan logged 29,740 new cases on Monday, up slightly from the previous week, bringing the country's total to about 6.4 million, including about 28,000 deaths.
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said the increase underscored 'œthe spread of the BA.2 subvariant of omicron that is replacing the existing variant with significant speed.'ť
People wearing face masks view seasonal cherry blossoms at the Sumida Park, on Monday, March 28, 2022, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
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A woman wearing traditional Kimono outfit looks at a canopy of cherry blossoms as she passes along a pedestrian bridge Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
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People on boat view Cherry blossom in full bloom at the Chidorigafuchi palace moat in Tokyo Monday, March 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
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A woman wearing face mask enjoys viewing Cherry blossom in full bloom at the Chidorigafuchi Park in Tokyo Monday, March 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
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People wearing face masks view seasonal cherry blossoms at the Sumida Park Monday, March 28, 2022, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
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People wearing face masks stroll under Cherry blossom in full bloom at the Zojoji temple in Tokyo Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
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People wearing face masks stroll under Cherry blossom in full bloom at the Zojoji temple in Tokyo Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
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People wearing face mask enjoy viewing Cherry blossom in full bloom at the Zojoji temple in Tokyo Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
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People wearing face masks takes a picture of Cherry blossom in full bloom at the Chidorigafuchi Park in Tokyo Monday, March 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
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People wearing face masks take a selfie together, as they view Cherry blossom in full bloom at the Chidorigafuchi Park in Tokyo Monday, March 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
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A woman wearing face enjoy viewing Cherry blossom at the Chidorigafuchi Park in Tokyo Monday, March 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
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People walk across a street under a canopy of cherry blossoms Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
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People stop to take pictures of a canopy of cherry blossoms over a street as they pass along a pedestrian bridge Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
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People stop to take pictures as they walk on a sidewalk under a canopy of cherry blossoms Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
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People walk on a sidewalk under a canopy of cherry blossoms Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
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People stop to take pictures as they walk across a street under a canopy of cherry blossoms Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
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People wearing face masks on a boat enjoy viewing Cherry blossom from at the Chidorigafuchi palace moat in Tokyo Monday, March 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
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People wearing face masks stroll under Cherry blossom in full bloom at the Chidorigafuchi Park in Tokyo Monday, March 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
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People on boat views Cherry blossom in full bloom at the Chidorigafuchi palace moat in Tokyo Monday, March 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
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A woman wearing a face mask views a cherry blossom bloom at the Sumida Park Monday, March 28, 2022, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
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People wearing face masks stroll under Cherry blossom in full bloom at the Zojoji temple in Tokyo Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
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