08 Sep 2025
Japan’s fresh cherry market saw a 22.4% drop in consumption during the 2024/25 season, with a modest recovery forecast for 2025/26. Limited domestic production is straining supply, affecting the Furusato Nozei program and shifting summer gift trends among younger consumers.
12 Aug 2025
An innovative hybrid phenological model combines biological knowledge and machine learning to predict cherry blossom. Tested in Japan, South Korea and Switzerland, it delivers higher accuracy and adaptability than traditional models, even with limited data.
08 Jul 2025
Yamagata Beniou cherries are gaining popularity for their sweet taste, crisp texture, and heat resistance—perfect for the gift market. With over 3,000 producers and 70 tons expected in 2025, they rise as Sato Nishiki faces a decline due to adverse weather conditions.
24 Jun 2025
In Kyoto, Japan, the Sano family has protected a rare cherry blossom garden for generations. Tōemon Sano, 97, Japan’s most revered sakuramori, continues his mission to shield sakura trees from climate change and preserve their fleeting beauty and deep cultural significance.
08 May 2025
A study on sour cherry in Japan shows how genetic factors shape spring bloom. The findings help develop resilient cultivars, safeguarding yields from climate change, frost risks, and mismatches with pollinators, ensuring sustainable fruit production.
02 Jan 2025
A study conducted in Japan analyzed the behavior of the Yoshino cherry tree, collecting data from 1948 to 2024. The aim was to understand the relationships between cold exposure, necessary for dormancy release, and heat required for bud development.
02 Dec 2024
The tree was planted as part of the celebrations for the University's 75th anniversary, during a ceremony attended by a representative of the Japanese Embassy in the United Kingdom, former Foreign Ministry diplomat, and two-time Olympian Mara Yamauchi.
04 Oct 2024
Officials stated that the estimated harvest of 8,700 tons for this season has decreased by 33% compared to the previous year and by 35% compared to the annual average. The annual harvest has fallen below 10,000 tons only once in the last decade: 9,160 tons in 2021.
16 Sep 2024
In the 2023/24 marketing year, the area planted with fresh cherries in Japan slightly decreased to 4,200 hectares (ha) compared to 4,230 ha in MY 2022/23. FAS/Tokyo predicts that this trend will continue in MY 2024/25, with the planted area expected to reach 4,160 hectares.
04 Sep 2024
The city’s sakura records date back more than 1,200 years, the longest annual phenological record, or study of biological cycles, on Earth. The research on early blooms in Kyoto “has been identified and attributed to human-caused climate change,” says Gonzalez.
