Weather companies have started releasing their forecasts for the "cherry blossom front," which is expected to begin next month.
Traditionally, cherry trees start flowering in warmer parts of Japan and gradually move northward. This year's forecast for Tokyo, however, says the trees -- known as "sakura" in Japanese -- could erupt into color strikingly early, and some companies are even predicting that the capital will be the first part of the country to witness an explosion of pink. But how can this be, given Tokyo's mid-country location?
