Spotted! Light pink and white flowers sprout from tree branches. It’s cherry blossom season in Japan.

Official cherry blossom spotters announced the first blooming last week. They declared the official start of the season in Tokyo. That city is the capital of Japan.

Weather officials carefully checked a tree in Tokyo. Before making an announcement, officials must see more than five blossoms on the tree. On March 24, there were six.

The opening was five days earlier than last year. Tokyo has been warmer than usual this spring.

Cherry blossoms, or sakura, are Japan’s favorite flower. The blooms usually reach their peak in late March to early April. That’s also around the start of a new school and business year. Many Japanese enjoy walking or picnicking under the trees.

Other cities’ trees bloom at different times. The day before the Tokyo announcement, officials confirmed the nation’s very first cherry blossom in the city of Kochi. That’s in the southwestern part of Japan. What about Kushiro? That city is on a northern island. Forecasters predict that its first blossom won’t come until early May.

Japan’s weather agency tracks more than 50 cherry trees across the country. The trees normally bloom for about two weeks each year. 

Sakura have influenced Japanese culture for centuries. They inspire poets and writers. Those artists see the fragile blossoms as symbols of life, death, and rebirth. Do those words remind you of anything? Jesus told Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

The Holy Spirit works in our hearts. He gives us faith to believe and accept Jesus’ saving work—His death on the cross. We are reborn in Christ.