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There's one season
that's more anticipated and loved
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than any other on the planet.
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00:00:11,620 --> 00:00:14,580
Spring.
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So, for the first time ever,
Springwatch is travelling
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to a country where they celebrate
this prettiest of natural events.
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Like nowhere else on earth.
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Hello.
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Welcome to Japan.
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We've come here to experience
one of the most spectacular,
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the most anticipated and,
as you can see the most celebrated
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springtime events in the world.
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The emergence of the Sakura,
Japan's cherry blossom.
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We've come to Tokyo,
one of the world's busiest cities,
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to experience this explosion
of pink, along with millions
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of locals and tourists that have
also come here to celebrate
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the start of spring.
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And as spring erupts, through Japan,
where going to follow it
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step-by-step to explain this
phenomenon in terms of the impact
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that it has on all of the people,
which you can see and,
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of course, the wildlife, as well.
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We're going to explore Sakura,
Japan's ancient capital Kyoto
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and its modern capital Tokyo.
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I'm going in search
of an exquisite little bird
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that I've never seen before.
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And it absolutely
loves cherry blossom.
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It's a very busy tree but this tree,
at this time of year,
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is a sugar factory.
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While Chris is bird-watching I'll be
meeting some streetwise bees making
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honey from the city's blossom.
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Oh!
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That is so good.
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And ethnobotanist James Wong has
also joined us to explore
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the cultural and spiritual
links with Sakura.
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Visiting the hidden
Buddha on Mount Yoshino.
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They are only on show
when the Sakura are blossoming.
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And, as if all that isn't enough,
we've just about crashed one
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of the biggest nature festivals
on the planet.
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And I've heard, Michaela,
that after dark, after a day
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of drinking sake
things can get really wild.
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Really wild.
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So, welcome to Springwatch in Japan.
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It's cherry blossom time.
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Welcome to Tokyo where
blossom is in full bloom.
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I've got to tell you,
1200 trees here, Michaela,
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and they are looking fantastic.
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We're here to celebrate what has
to be one of the most
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hotly anticipated and,
let's face it, prettiest festivals
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of spring in the world.
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And you can follow what's
going on live on our website,
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not only in Japan, of course,
but all across the UK.
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Across Japan there are about
a million cherry trees.
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And as the blossom blooms,
it marks the arrival of spring
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in a, sort of, pink
wave across the country
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from south to north.
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The Japanese archipelago covers
about 2000 miles across 20 latitudes
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so it takes the cherry blossom,
or Sakura, as it's called
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here in Japan about 15 weeks
to make its appearance
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throughout the country.
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And it opens when daytime
temperatures reach somewhere
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between 17 and 20 Celsius.
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What temperature do
you think it is today?
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I'm quite hot.
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I'm a little bit overdressed.
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It's not 20 degrees.
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It is!
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No, it's not.
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It's still quite chilly,
to be quite honest with you.
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Listen, hold onto
this map, will you?
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Let's sit down.
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Make ourselves comfortable here.
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Because I can show you how
the blossom moves south to north
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across this archipelago.
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So, it started down here on the 14th
of January and the prediction says
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it will end up here on Hokkaido,
close to this little spot
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here on the 9th of May.
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At the moment, we're in Tokyo
here and, as you can see,
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it's pretty much at its prime
but it isn't a simple
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south to north relationship.
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There are a few little
discrepancies and we'll be
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talking about those later.
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Every year is different.
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It's a real gamble as to which week
you pick to come here.
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Come here too early,
ahead of the blossom,
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come here too late and all you see
is a carpet of pink.
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I think we are spot
on here in Tokyo.
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It's out here and
absolutely gorgeous.
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How long do you think
it's going to last?
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Well, typically, it goes
through a 14 day cycle from bud
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to the petals on the ground.
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At the moment, I'd say we were
possibly on about day ten or 12.
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There is still a few more buds
to open but there are some that
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are already shedding their petals.
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We are at peak time.
We've hit the mark.
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So many people come here
to celebrate this festival.
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Tokyo is absolutely packed.
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Everywhere you go in this
part, people last airing
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at the pink blossom.
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Hotels are booked months,
if not a year, in advance.
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It's a fantastic celebration
of pink and spring.
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It's quite heartening, isn't it?
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Millions of people coming out
in response to nature.
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Millions of them do,
not just here in Tokyo
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but throughout Japan and not just
Japanese people, people come
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from overseas as well.
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That said,
it's not just about humans.
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It's not just about the blossom.
It's about wildlife, as well.
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This time of year is also known
as the awakening of the creatures.
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Japan's long string
of Pacific islands
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has an extraordinary climate range.
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From mid-January, the cherry
blossom, or Sakura, as it's known,
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starts to open in the southern
islands where temperatures can
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reach a balmy 20 Celsius.
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While 2000 miles away
in Japan's far north,
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the island of Hokkaido
is still gripped by ice and snow.
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Only found on Hokkaido,
Japanese red crowned cranes gather
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to strengthen their social bonds.
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In anticipation of their breeding
season when spring finally arrives.
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By late March, on the main island
of Honshu, in the middle
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of the country,
spring is in its infancy.
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Sakura is replacing the snow.
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But daytime temperatures are only
just shifting into double figures.
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And the blossom makes a welcome
snack for the Japanese macaques.
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But it's at the foot
of the archipelago on Okinawa
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where spring is fully underway.
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The subtropical waters
of the Pacific are teeming
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with life, fuelled by Japan's
own Gulf Stream.
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The Kuroshio Current.
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These warm waters draw
visitors, large and small,
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throughout the year.
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In spring, perhaps the most reliable
are female green turtles returning
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to lay their eggs.
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Here is where it all begins.
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The warm waters create warm air
currents which hit the land,
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triggering a wave of pink Sakura
to sweep up the country announcing
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the arrival of spring.
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But, of course, accurately
forecasting that journey isn't
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as predictable as you might think.
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And there's a good
geographical reason for that.
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There's an warm water current
which typically help spread
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the blossom from south to north
but another factor is involved.
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A range of mountains that runs down
here and they shelter places
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like Tokyo from the cold air coming
off the Asiatic continental landmass
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which we've come across here.
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So, Tokyo is sheltered.
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However, Kyoto, down here,
no mountains, plenty of cold air
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and it suffers from
what I'm calling blossom lag.
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I don't know what the Japanese
is but I'm going to look at.
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I've introduced a whole
new factor to this festival.
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Blossom lag.
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But despite all that
preparations are still underway.
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So, James went to one of the most
sacred places in the ancient city
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to look at the history
of this spectacular festival.
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Surrounded by magnificent gardens,
Kyoto's impressive Nijo Castle
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was built over 400 years ago.
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But the history of cherry blossom
viewing, or Hanami, as it's known,
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dates back far further
here in Japan's ancient capital.
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With records going back as far
as the eighth century.
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But it wasn't always
about cherry blossom.
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Look at this spectacular
plum blossom.
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Peaking just before
the Sakura come into flower.
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It was originally this guy
that the Japanese celebrated.
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In fact, it was then
the national flower.
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It was only change to the Sakura
later because it's blossoming
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ties in perfectly with
spring rice planting.
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Therefore, the success
of the blossom was used to predict
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the fortunes of the harvest.
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As the symbolism grew,
the aristocracy started ranting
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cherries in their own
private gardens.
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With the Emperor Saga popularising
Hanami in the ninth century
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by having parties under the blossom
at his Imperial Court,
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here in Kyoto.
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Then, after centuries
of being celebrated,
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in only the gardens
of the elite, a very special
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Sakura was discovered.
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And this is him right here.
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The Somei Yoshino.
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It's considered the most
beautiful of cherry blossom.
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It's a hybrid that's
discovered in the 19th century
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and their massively propagated,
cloned, so it's
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absolutely everywhere.
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For that reason, the single
variety makes up 80%
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of Sakura trees in Japan.
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And because it's a clone,
it's surely blooms are guaranteed
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to bloom at the same time
as its neighbours,
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providing a visual spectacle
that is modern Hanami.
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Finally, a cherry
tree for the masses.
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Japan's adulation for this
blossom brought with it
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a commercial explosion.
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The Sakura season has
become big business.
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So, I'm taking Michaela on a Kyoto
shopping trip where the streets
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are quite literally dripping
with Sakura souvenirs.
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We've come into the heart of Kyoto
now, to the region they call Gion.
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And it's where traditional
and modern really do collide.
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And there's not a single
Somei Yoshino cherry tree in sight.
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That said, Michaela,
there's blossom everywhere.
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It's beautiful.
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It's so pink.
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And blossom is big business.
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The Sakura season is worth billions
of dollars to the Japanese economy.
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March and April is the peak time
where everyone's looking
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for Sakura on things,
smelling of Sakura, basically,
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something that's just pink.
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The pickled radish flavoured
with Sakura leaves.
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OK.
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Let's give it a go.
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Oh!
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I quite like that.
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That's a good taste.
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I like the fact that here,
Chris, we've got Sakura
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and Christmas all in one cracker.
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Look at the little tray
that they put it on.
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As if it's some kind of valuable
watch, or something.
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Not something that you'd eat.
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Look at this.
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They are presented like jewels.
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Like valuable jewels.
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Each of these is made by a different
confectioner in Kyoto.
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They deliver them in the morning
and when they're sold
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in the evening, it's all over.
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There are gone forever.
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And look at this one.
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It's perfect.
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It's like a little blossom.
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I'd like one of these, please.
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That's a Sakura leaf.
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Sakura blossom and inside it's
sticky, sweet rice.
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All coming in a beautifully packaged
box, of course, it's pink.
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So, I think I'll have this.
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This is where the packaging
goes to like Love, Actually.
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Yeah.
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It's everything, the whole works.
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Matching bag.
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Maybe a little sprinkle
of something in there.
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00:12:56,620 --> 00:12:59,660
If you've got a sweet tooth,
the choice of things you can buy
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in supermarkets is unbelievable
and it all has a Sakura theme.
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00:13:02,460 --> 00:13:03,500
I mean, look at this.
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Sweet pink rice.
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00:13:05,380 --> 00:13:10,820
It's a box within a bag within a box
and within the box two of the most
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beautiful suites that I've ever seen
in the whole world.
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Well, I'm very pleased
with my purchase.
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00:13:16,500 --> 00:13:26,500
Yes.
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00:13:27,940 --> 00:13:32,300
You know, there's a Japanese phrase
which is that the first
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bite is with the eye.
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What they mean is, as soon
as you see something,
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you make a judgment of it.
246
00:13:40,940 --> 00:13:42,660
Therefore, they're really keen
on their presentation.
247
00:13:42,660 --> 00:13:45,300
I'm very excited about trying these,
I've got to tell you.
248
00:13:45,300 --> 00:13:46,780
Look, come on, take your pick.
249
00:13:46,780 --> 00:13:48,620
These look absolutely remarkable.
250
00:13:48,620 --> 00:13:50,780
That is a work of art.
251
00:13:50,780 --> 00:13:57,340
I'm going for the more
brightly coloured one.
252
00:14:07,100 --> 00:14:11,180
I know those sweets were beautifully
presented but I have
253
00:14:11,180 --> 00:14:14,780
to say having tasted them,
given the choice now,
254
00:14:14,780 --> 00:14:16,060
I prefer a chocolate bar.
255
00:14:16,060 --> 00:14:19,740
No, no, no, no.
256
00:14:19,740 --> 00:14:22,420
The presentation was immaculate.
It was beautiful.
257
00:14:22,420 --> 00:14:25,020
I love all those clinical shops,
everything laid out in tanks.
258
00:14:25,020 --> 00:14:26,620
But it was too much packaging.
259
00:14:26,620 --> 00:14:32,220
Beautiful but way
too much packaging.
260
00:14:32,220 --> 00:14:35,020
It's time to talk blossom now,
and of course, all of this
261
00:14:35,020 --> 00:14:36,940
sort of stuff isn't just
thrown together willy-nilly.
262
00:14:36,940 --> 00:14:38,100
This takes planning.
263
00:14:38,100 --> 00:14:41,020
It does take planning,
but how on earth to you plan a party
264
00:14:41,020 --> 00:14:42,540
if you can't know the date?
265
00:14:42,540 --> 00:14:45,100
If each year the timing
of the blossom changes?
266
00:14:45,100 --> 00:14:47,940
Well, as we know from Springwatch,
nature has very much an objective
267
00:14:47,940 --> 00:14:51,380
to run to its own schedule,
so what we need now is a bit
268
00:14:51,380 --> 00:14:54,620
of a science lesson,
so join me as I go back to Kyoto
269
00:14:54,620 --> 00:14:56,620
for a bit of blossom biology.
270
00:15:05,580 --> 00:15:08,740
Let's be frank about it.
271
00:15:08,740 --> 00:15:11,300
In this wonderful avenue of ancient
trees at Nijo Castle,
272
00:15:11,300 --> 00:15:16,300
things are still pretty brown
at the moment.
273
00:15:16,300 --> 00:15:19,860
And I'm no expert, but I'd say it's
going to be a few more days
274
00:15:19,860 --> 00:15:23,700
before this is transformed
into an avenue of blossom.
275
00:15:23,700 --> 00:15:27,060
But then the whole process is almost
impossible to predict.
276
00:15:29,420 --> 00:15:32,220
And the reason that it's almost
impossible to predict is that it
277
00:15:32,220 --> 00:15:38,740
comes down to the vagaries of nature
and the weather.
278
00:15:38,740 --> 00:15:41,740
You see, some of these cherry trees
need to go through a process
279
00:15:41,740 --> 00:15:42,780
called vernalisation.
280
00:15:42,780 --> 00:15:47,660
All sorts of plants do.
281
00:15:47,660 --> 00:15:49,260
The seeds, bulbs and
the trees themselves.
282
00:15:49,260 --> 00:15:50,940
And it's all to do with chilling.
283
00:15:50,940 --> 00:15:53,060
Some of these species need
to be below freezing
284
00:15:53,060 --> 00:15:54,340
for at least 1200 hours.
285
00:15:54,340 --> 00:15:56,980
Only then is there any chance
at all that they might
286
00:15:56,980 --> 00:15:59,420
open their buds and bloom.
287
00:15:59,420 --> 00:16:01,900
So quite clearly, this tree
here has gone through that
288
00:16:01,900 --> 00:16:03,660
vernalisation process,
and this one is fully open
289
00:16:03,660 --> 00:16:08,300
and it's looking splendid.
290
00:16:08,300 --> 00:16:12,940
And it's got a very delicate aroma.
291
00:16:12,940 --> 00:16:15,700
And of course, the unpredictable
nature of this generates a real
292
00:16:15,700 --> 00:16:24,020
sense of anticipation.
293
00:16:24,020 --> 00:16:26,980
And here, even in the rain now,
people have got their brollies
294
00:16:26,980 --> 00:16:29,620
up and their hoods up,
but they're all standing here taking
295
00:16:29,620 --> 00:16:30,580
photographs of this tree.
296
00:16:30,580 --> 00:16:33,180
And I feel compelled
to join in, I have to say.
297
00:16:33,180 --> 00:16:34,300
That's very kind.
298
00:16:34,300 --> 00:16:35,140
Thank you very much.
299
00:16:35,140 --> 00:16:36,780
Thank you.
300
00:16:36,780 --> 00:16:37,780
Look at that.
301
00:16:37,780 --> 00:16:39,300
Kyoto, cherry blossom in bloom.
302
00:16:39,300 --> 00:16:40,260
Chris Packham.
303
00:16:40,260 --> 00:16:46,020
Superb.
304
00:16:55,700 --> 00:16:58,940
Chris, you've gone all cheesy on us
with your cherry blossom photo.
305
00:16:58,940 --> 00:17:00,140
What do you mean, cheesy?
306
00:17:00,140 --> 00:17:01,340
I was just joining in.
307
00:17:01,340 --> 00:17:02,260
Everyone was taking photos.
308
00:17:02,260 --> 00:17:05,140
I was just trying to become part
of the festival and the culture.
309
00:17:05,140 --> 00:17:06,740
You'll be getting
a selfie stick next.
310
00:17:06,740 --> 00:17:08,100
I feel compelled to join in!
311
00:17:08,100 --> 00:17:09,820
I am not getting a selfie stick.
312
00:17:09,820 --> 00:17:10,740
What do you want?
313
00:17:10,740 --> 00:17:17,020
A photo.
314
00:17:17,020 --> 00:17:18,260
This one's more appropriate.
315
00:17:18,260 --> 00:17:20,260
The blossom matches the colour
of your coat better.
316
00:17:20,260 --> 00:17:21,260
There we are.
317
00:17:21,260 --> 00:17:22,340
Smile.
318
00:17:22,340 --> 00:17:23,300
Brilliant.
319
00:17:23,300 --> 00:17:24,340
Thanks.
320
00:17:24,340 --> 00:17:26,420
As Chris was saying,
the anticipation of the celebration
321
00:17:26,420 --> 00:17:28,940
just adds to the excitement,
but of course it's not
322
00:17:28,940 --> 00:17:30,020
all left to chance.
323
00:17:30,020 --> 00:17:32,660
There's a lot of time,
effort and money that goes
324
00:17:32,660 --> 00:17:34,300
into getting the timing
of the sakura spot-on.
325
00:17:34,300 --> 00:17:37,020
And as you can imagine here
in Japan, technology plays its part.
326
00:17:37,020 --> 00:17:40,220
So a few days ago I went to one
of the weather agencies
327
00:17:40,220 --> 00:17:41,860
here in Tokyo to see just how exact
they can get their predictions.
328
00:17:51,140 --> 00:17:52,780
This is the headquarters of WNI.
329
00:17:52,780 --> 00:17:57,460
It's the largest private weather
news agency in Japan.
330
00:17:57,460 --> 00:17:59,660
As you can see, it's
all very technical.
331
00:17:59,660 --> 00:18:03,740
Lots of screens with maps
and graphs and things on it.
332
00:18:03,740 --> 00:18:07,180
Now, just to give you an idea of how
important this whole operation is,
333
00:18:07,180 --> 00:18:09,260
on one side of this room
they monitor storms,
334
00:18:09,260 --> 00:18:11,460
hurricanes and earthquakes,
and on the other they monitor
335
00:18:11,460 --> 00:18:14,700
the cherry blossom prediction.
336
00:18:14,700 --> 00:18:19,300
And at this time of the year,
that's just as important.
337
00:18:19,300 --> 00:18:21,820
They look at temperature,
wind conditions and light,
338
00:18:21,820 --> 00:18:24,780
and they also rely heavily on input
from the public, who send
339
00:18:24,780 --> 00:18:29,740
in photographs of how their local
blossom is progressing.
340
00:18:29,740 --> 00:18:32,780
They can receive up to 3000
photographs in just one day.
341
00:18:34,140 --> 00:18:40,300
Analysing all that data is Yuri.
342
00:18:40,300 --> 00:18:42,740
Yuri, it's so important
for you to get it right.
343
00:18:42,740 --> 00:18:44,740
Do you get nervous
at this time of year?
344
00:18:44,740 --> 00:18:47,540
SHE SPEAKS JAPANESE.
345
00:18:53,940 --> 00:18:59,420
Well, yes, I feel pressure
because it's only one week that
346
00:18:59,420 --> 00:19:02,060
people can see the beautiful Sakura
tree for a whole year,
347
00:19:02,060 --> 00:19:05,660
so the pressure is on.
348
00:19:05,660 --> 00:19:10,540
Is the bloom later this year?
349
00:19:20,780 --> 00:19:22,780
It started blooming very early
in Tokyo, but afterwards,
350
00:19:22,780 --> 00:19:25,220
the temperature went down,
and so it's now very slow,
351
00:19:25,220 --> 00:19:33,740
and in Kyoto it's really late this
year, unfortunately.
352
00:19:33,740 --> 00:19:35,780
Yuri explains that the buds go
through seven stages
353
00:19:35,780 --> 00:19:39,420
before they blossom.
354
00:19:39,420 --> 00:19:43,100
Over in Kyoto, they've
reached a stage six,
355
00:19:43,100 --> 00:19:47,940
so theoretically in three days
the blossom should arrive.
356
00:19:47,940 --> 00:19:48,940
Thank you so much.
357
00:19:48,940 --> 00:19:50,860
Thank you.
358
00:19:52,700 --> 00:19:56,060
CHRIS: Sakura forecasting may be
a high-tech affair today,
359
00:19:56,060 --> 00:19:59,620
but traditionally it depended
on a few expert individuals,
360
00:19:59,620 --> 00:20:04,340
and the predictability
of Japan's price cherry tree,
361
00:20:04,340 --> 00:20:08,500
the cloned somei yoshino.
362
00:20:08,500 --> 00:20:12,060
Now, over here, just here,
is a cherry tree like no others.
363
00:20:12,060 --> 00:20:14,940
It's more important than cherry tree
here, and indeed this cherry tree
364
00:20:14,940 --> 00:20:15,980
and this cherry tree.
365
00:20:15,980 --> 00:20:19,740
Because this is the
indicator tree for Kyoto.
366
00:20:19,740 --> 00:20:22,100
And there are 90 indicator tree
is spread across Japan,
367
00:20:22,100 --> 00:20:24,500
and it's these trees that determine
whether the Hanami season
368
00:20:24,500 --> 00:20:28,220
will start here or not.
369
00:20:28,220 --> 00:20:30,460
So, someone has to make that
judgment, and that person
370
00:20:30,460 --> 00:20:35,940
is in attendance this morning.
371
00:20:35,940 --> 00:20:41,300
This is Mr Hatoka, and his job
is to determine whether this tree
372
00:20:41,300 --> 00:20:42,700
is bursting into bloom or not.
373
00:20:42,700 --> 00:20:50,420
This job is a huge responsibility.
374
00:20:50,420 --> 00:20:52,140
It involves recording
the temperature and checking
375
00:20:52,140 --> 00:20:54,180
the tree twice a day,
once in the morning
376
00:20:54,180 --> 00:20:55,380
and again in the afternoon.
377
00:20:55,380 --> 00:21:02,140
And he needs at least five buds
to have opened before
378
00:21:02,140 --> 00:21:04,540
he can announce the start
of Kyoto's Sakura season.
379
00:21:04,540 --> 00:21:06,180
No wonder he arrives early
and works diligently.
380
00:21:06,180 --> 00:21:09,140
Because trying to find just five
open buds in amongst this tree
381
00:21:09,140 --> 00:21:18,180
of thousands is quite tricky.
382
00:21:20,740 --> 00:21:21,780
Ah, here, just here.
383
00:21:21,780 --> 00:21:22,780
I see.
384
00:21:22,780 --> 00:21:23,900
Thank you, yeah.
385
00:21:23,900 --> 00:21:25,020
There were two flowers there.
386
00:21:25,020 --> 00:21:26,060
Two flowers.
387
00:21:26,060 --> 00:21:28,420
Two flowers completely open,
and a few others partially open.
388
00:21:28,420 --> 00:21:32,580
But is that enough?
389
00:21:32,580 --> 00:21:38,140
I'm dying to ask the million
dollar question.
390
00:21:38,140 --> 00:21:41,460
Mr Hatoka, is today
going to be the day?
391
00:21:41,460 --> 00:21:45,340
Yes, he thinks.
392
00:21:46,580 --> 00:21:47,700
He thinks it is!
393
00:21:49,060 --> 00:21:50,220
He thinks it is.
394
00:21:51,420 --> 00:21:52,660
He thinks it is!
395
00:21:52,660 --> 00:21:54,660
Yes!
396
00:21:57,580 --> 00:22:00,220
The man from Kyoto said yes.
397
00:22:00,220 --> 00:22:01,380
Was he right?
398
00:22:01,380 --> 00:22:02,860
Well, of course he was right.
399
00:22:02,860 --> 00:22:05,060
I wouldn't argue with
an expert on that account.
400
00:22:05,060 --> 00:22:09,180
But I was surprised that he
announced the start so early,
401
00:22:09,180 --> 00:22:11,940
because the first few partygoers
are going to be partying under trees
402
00:22:11,940 --> 00:22:14,660
with very little blossom on them.
403
00:22:14,660 --> 00:22:16,620
I mean, we were there, and it really
wasn't like it is here.
404
00:22:16,620 --> 00:22:20,540
I mean, this is absolutely gorgeous.
405
00:22:20,540 --> 00:22:25,860
This is definitely the time
to picnic and party,
406
00:22:25,860 --> 00:22:28,420
and on that note, Chris,
I have bought a Bento box.
407
00:22:28,420 --> 00:22:29,700
I mean, again, beautifully packaged.
408
00:22:29,700 --> 00:22:30,660
Look at that.
409
00:22:30,660 --> 00:22:31,860
Shall we open it up?
410
00:22:31,860 --> 00:22:33,300
I love these, though.
411
00:22:33,300 --> 00:22:37,140
This is very different to our cheese
and pickle sandwiches
412
00:22:37,140 --> 00:22:40,580
that we get for our takeaway lunch.
413
00:22:40,580 --> 00:22:41,820
Look at that.
414
00:22:41,820 --> 00:22:45,100
They really are like the sort
of thing is that my mum would have
415
00:22:45,100 --> 00:22:47,260
put together in the 1960s
in a Tupperware container.
416
00:22:47,260 --> 00:22:51,980
So this is the equivalent
of sort of white bread,
417
00:22:51,980 --> 00:22:54,660
jam and banana sandwiches,
and here is some Angel Delight.
418
00:22:54,660 --> 00:22:57,020
I'm going to help myself
to a little bit of veg.
419
00:22:57,020 --> 00:22:58,100
Have a carrot.
420
00:22:58,100 --> 00:23:00,300
I am going to try
some of this carrot.
421
00:23:00,300 --> 00:23:02,980
It is interesting, though,
they do like a lot of colour
422
00:23:02,980 --> 00:23:03,860
in their Bento boxes.
423
00:23:03,860 --> 00:23:05,580
And they've certainly
fulfilled that with this.
424
00:23:05,580 --> 00:23:08,220
And the other thing is that
during the season, of course,
425
00:23:08,220 --> 00:23:10,100
they are Sakura themed,
and they sell millions
426
00:23:10,100 --> 00:23:11,220
of these things.
427
00:23:11,220 --> 00:23:12,060
They certainly do.
428
00:23:12,060 --> 00:23:13,500
What do you reckon that is?
429
00:23:13,500 --> 00:23:14,900
I think it's curd or something.
430
00:23:14,900 --> 00:23:16,380
OK, well, this is definitely fish.
431
00:23:16,380 --> 00:23:19,580
I'm going to eat some of that.
432
00:23:19,580 --> 00:23:20,620
I quite like bean curd.
433
00:23:20,620 --> 00:23:21,820
That's very mean.
434
00:23:21,820 --> 00:23:23,500
I'm a bit of a tofu girl.
435
00:23:23,500 --> 00:23:26,100
Well, the companies certainly make
the most of the Sakura season,
436
00:23:26,100 --> 00:23:29,100
but then again, so does some
of the wildlife, as I found
437
00:23:29,100 --> 00:23:31,140
out a few days ago.
438
00:23:40,940 --> 00:23:44,220
Thank you.
439
00:23:44,220 --> 00:23:47,580
Now, you may be wondering why I'm
sitting in a cafe in Tokyo having
440
00:23:47,580 --> 00:23:50,900
what looks like a latte and a mini
pizza, when surely I should be
441
00:23:50,900 --> 00:23:54,420
trying something more Japanese
like sushi and saki?
442
00:23:54,420 --> 00:23:55,620
Well, let me tell you.
443
00:23:55,620 --> 00:24:02,900
This is very Japanese.
444
00:24:02,900 --> 00:24:04,820
Because there's a very special
local highly sought-after
445
00:24:04,820 --> 00:24:06,980
ingredient used in this meal,
and it is this.
446
00:24:06,980 --> 00:24:07,980
Honey.
447
00:24:07,980 --> 00:24:09,220
And yes, you've guessed it.
448
00:24:09,220 --> 00:24:12,180
At this time of the year,
it's made from Sakura.
449
00:24:12,180 --> 00:24:15,980
Made by Tokyo's urban bees,
Sakura honey only has
450
00:24:15,980 --> 00:24:18,580
a very short season,
so each year, only a limited amount
451
00:24:18,580 --> 00:24:21,980
of this liquid gold is produced.
452
00:24:21,980 --> 00:24:25,180
Which means it's in high demand.
453
00:24:27,060 --> 00:24:30,860
I've come to the fashionable Ginza
district to meet Mr Tanaka,
454
00:24:30,860 --> 00:24:35,700
the founder of the local honeybee
project at one of his
455
00:24:35,700 --> 00:24:37,980
rooftop honey farms to see
what all the buzz is about.
456
00:24:41,580 --> 00:24:43,620
Wow, this is what you
call hives at height.
457
00:24:43,620 --> 00:24:46,340
Bees and a view of the city.
458
00:24:46,340 --> 00:24:47,300
It's fantastic.
459
00:24:47,300 --> 00:24:48,220
Mr Tanaka, hello.
460
00:24:48,220 --> 00:24:49,220
Nice to meet you.
461
00:24:49,220 --> 00:24:50,180
And you.
462
00:24:50,180 --> 00:24:51,220
And your bees.
463
00:24:51,220 --> 00:24:52,220
Can I come in?
464
00:24:52,220 --> 00:24:53,820
Walk slowly and gently.
465
00:24:53,820 --> 00:24:55,500
How many hives do you have here?
466
00:24:55,500 --> 00:24:59,980
Five hives.
467
00:24:59,980 --> 00:25:05,500
'Whilst the Sakura season
has only just started,
468
00:25:05,500 --> 00:25:07,380
the bees are already busy.'
469
00:25:07,380 --> 00:25:10,060
This one
you can clearly see that it's been
470
00:25:10,060 --> 00:25:12,500
out collecting pollen,
and those pollen sacs on its leg.
471
00:25:12,500 --> 00:25:15,180
It must be quite difficult for them
to fly with all that.
472
00:25:15,180 --> 00:25:16,460
Yes, for me, two watermelons.
473
00:25:16,460 --> 00:25:18,580
It's like us having two
watermelons on your legs!
474
00:25:18,580 --> 00:25:20,820
You can see that.
475
00:25:20,820 --> 00:25:22,300
What species of bee do you have?
476
00:25:22,300 --> 00:25:23,860
European.
477
00:25:23,860 --> 00:25:25,500
They are European bees?
478
00:25:25,500 --> 00:25:26,540
OK.
479
00:25:26,540 --> 00:25:28,500
So these are the workers.
480
00:25:28,500 --> 00:25:30,220
Yes.
481
00:25:30,220 --> 00:25:33,700
They collect the pollen
and they look after the brood.
482
00:25:33,700 --> 00:25:35,860
This is queen bee.
483
00:25:35,860 --> 00:25:37,540
Oh, yes, you can see.
484
00:25:37,540 --> 00:25:39,540
You can clearly see that
that's the queen bee.
485
00:25:39,540 --> 00:25:40,540
It's much bigger.
486
00:25:40,540 --> 00:25:42,220
There's only one queen in each hive.
487
00:25:42,220 --> 00:25:44,620
Laying all of the eggs.
488
00:25:44,620 --> 00:25:48,460
Just a moment.
489
00:25:48,460 --> 00:25:50,940
Is that a baby bee?
490
00:25:50,940 --> 00:25:53,300
Oh, look at that.
491
00:25:53,300 --> 00:25:54,260
Happy birthday.
492
00:25:54,260 --> 00:25:56,620
Happy birthday Mrs Bee!
493
00:25:56,620 --> 00:25:59,140
Oh, that is fantastic to see that.
494
00:25:59,140 --> 00:26:00,260
Shall I hold it?
495
00:26:00,260 --> 00:26:01,660
OK.
496
00:26:01,660 --> 00:26:05,060
I don't want to upset the queen.
497
00:26:05,060 --> 00:26:08,180
So, why do you not
to use Japanese bees?
498
00:26:08,180 --> 00:26:10,820
Western bees are creating honey.
499
00:26:10,820 --> 00:26:12,220
So they produce more honey?
500
00:26:12,220 --> 00:26:13,260
They are better workers?
501
00:26:13,260 --> 00:26:15,900
Yes.
502
00:26:18,460 --> 00:26:21,220
Whilst the Japanese honeybees may
not be as good at producing honey,
503
00:26:21,220 --> 00:26:22,940
they have some other
pretty impressive skills.
504
00:26:22,940 --> 00:26:24,580
Especially when faced
with their nemesis,
505
00:26:24,580 --> 00:26:27,660
the Japanese giant hornet.
506
00:26:30,340 --> 00:26:32,380
It's the largest species
of hornet in the world,
507
00:26:32,380 --> 00:26:39,700
and this aggressive predator can
kill up to 40 honeybees a minute.
508
00:26:39,700 --> 00:26:41,900
However, the native bees have
developed a successful defence
509
00:26:41,900 --> 00:26:48,220
mechanism called bee balling.
510
00:26:48,220 --> 00:26:50,900
When a hornet tries to invade
the hive, several hundred bees
511
00:26:50,900 --> 00:26:52,940
form a ball around it
and vibrate their flight
512
00:26:52,940 --> 00:26:55,940
muscles to produce heat.
513
00:26:55,940 --> 00:27:00,020
As the temperature rises,
carbon dioxide levels rise, too,
514
00:27:00,020 --> 00:27:07,060
basically cooking and suffocating
the hornet without harming the bees.
515
00:27:07,060 --> 00:27:09,980
It's rare for the European bees
to protect themselves in the same
516
00:27:09,980 --> 00:27:11,780
way, so these high-flyers
have their own man-made
517
00:27:11,780 --> 00:27:15,140
security system.
518
00:27:15,140 --> 00:27:17,740
A wire mesh cage letting
the small bees in and keeping
519
00:27:17,740 --> 00:27:20,380
the large hornets out.
520
00:27:24,140 --> 00:27:25,980
How do you know that
it's Sakura honey?
521
00:27:25,980 --> 00:27:27,420
Very easy.
522
00:27:27,420 --> 00:27:30,660
Open the hive, strong smell.
523
00:27:30,660 --> 00:27:31,620
Really?
524
00:27:31,620 --> 00:27:33,100
You can tell from the smell?
525
00:27:33,100 --> 00:27:34,100
Yes.
526
00:27:34,100 --> 00:27:35,900
OK.
527
00:27:37,340 --> 00:27:38,180
OK?
528
00:27:38,180 --> 00:27:39,420
Just put my finger in?
529
00:27:39,420 --> 00:27:41,420
Oh, wow, OK.
530
00:27:41,420 --> 00:27:42,940
I've got it all over me.
531
00:27:46,660 --> 00:27:48,980
Oh, that is so good.
532
00:27:48,980 --> 00:27:49,940
Good?
533
00:27:49,940 --> 00:27:50,900
That is so good.
534
00:27:50,900 --> 00:27:53,340
Really sweet.
535
00:27:53,340 --> 00:27:57,340
So that has in it Sakura blossom?
536
00:27:57,340 --> 00:27:59,100
That is really nice.
537
00:27:59,100 --> 00:28:05,540
And it smells so floral,
as well, doesn't it?
538
00:28:05,540 --> 00:28:08,420
And that Sakura fragrance captured
in the honey can be smelt everywhere
539
00:28:08,420 --> 00:28:13,140
at this time of year.
540
00:28:13,140 --> 00:28:15,500
As it percolated through the streets
of this modern metropolis,
541
00:28:15,500 --> 00:28:18,260
helping to guide the bees
to the best cherry blossom
542
00:28:18,260 --> 00:28:20,420
hotspots, it's a perfume
that can guide us, too.
543
00:28:20,420 --> 00:28:22,700
Wow, look at this!
544
00:28:22,700 --> 00:28:23,820
The bees.
545
00:28:23,820 --> 00:28:25,700
Yes, where are the bees?
546
00:28:25,700 --> 00:28:26,700
Oh, look here.
547
00:28:26,700 --> 00:28:29,180
Here's a bee.
548
00:28:29,180 --> 00:28:33,620
You can see the pollen on the legs.
549
00:28:33,620 --> 00:28:36,900
Why do you love the bees so much?
550
00:28:36,900 --> 00:28:38,540
Because bees are connected,
nature and human.
551
00:28:38,540 --> 00:28:47,620
And not only nature,
connecting human to human.
552
00:28:48,660 --> 00:28:52,500
So the bees connect people to nature
and people to people?
553
00:28:52,500 --> 00:28:53,980
Yes.
554
00:28:53,980 --> 00:28:56,780
It is fantastic to have it
in the middle of the city.
555
00:28:56,780 --> 00:28:57,820
Not only buildings.
556
00:28:57,820 --> 00:29:00,540
Buildings and bees!
557
00:29:11,860 --> 00:29:14,460
To the wildlife in Japan,
one cherry tree is pretty much
558
00:29:14,460 --> 00:29:16,700
the same as another,
but to the Japanese,
559
00:29:16,700 --> 00:29:21,780
they have a hands down favourite.
560
00:29:21,780 --> 00:29:26,100
The somei yoshino.
561
00:29:26,100 --> 00:29:28,860
There are hundreds of thousands of
this one variety across the country.
562
00:29:30,740 --> 00:29:33,980
Making up these
eye-catching displays.
563
00:29:33,980 --> 00:29:37,820
But it's not a natural phenomenon,
it's a man-made miracle.
564
00:29:37,820 --> 00:29:40,660
And it's all to do with the way
these trees reproduce.
565
00:29:40,660 --> 00:29:42,060
Let me explain.
566
00:29:42,060 --> 00:29:46,340
So, here we are.
567
00:29:46,340 --> 00:29:47,980
Got to love an anatomical diagram.
568
00:29:47,980 --> 00:29:50,020
You have this little
pollen grain that's
569
00:29:50,020 --> 00:29:52,860
floating around, usually attached
to the surface of an insect.
570
00:29:52,860 --> 00:29:54,660
It gets deposited right
here, the surface of
571
00:29:54,660 --> 00:29:58,540
the stigma.
572
00:29:58,540 --> 00:30:00,780
When that happens, eventually,
it starts germinating a
573
00:30:00,780 --> 00:30:07,940
structure called a pollen tube.
574
00:30:07,940 --> 00:30:10,660
That snakes its way down this long
corridor called the styal.
575
00:30:10,660 --> 00:30:15,420
For fertilisation to
happen, that actually
576
00:30:15,420 --> 00:30:23,660
has to get the ovary
and deposit it payload of sperm.
577
00:30:23,660 --> 00:30:28,260
The problem is, in this variety,
the pollen tube is not
578
00:30:28,260 --> 00:30:29,820
quite long enough
and, so, fertilisation
579
00:30:29,820 --> 00:30:33,100
never takes place.
580
00:30:33,100 --> 00:30:35,900
In this variety, the male and female
parts just don't fit together.
581
00:30:35,900 --> 00:30:37,140
It's as simple as that.
582
00:30:37,140 --> 00:30:39,780
So the reason this tree has spread
throughout all the country
583
00:30:39,780 --> 00:30:40,700
is because of cloning.
584
00:30:40,700 --> 00:30:43,020
The method used is called grafting.
585
00:30:43,020 --> 00:30:50,220
Where a carefully
selected cutting from one
586
00:30:50,220 --> 00:30:53,420
plant is grafted onto
the root of another.
587
00:30:53,420 --> 00:30:57,820
The two form a living bond,
continuing to grow as one.
588
00:30:57,820 --> 00:31:00,980
Because there is only one parent
tree, all of these plants
589
00:31:00,980 --> 00:31:03,980
look exactly the same.
590
00:31:03,980 --> 00:31:07,420
They are, essentially,
just one genetic individual.
591
00:31:07,420 --> 00:31:14,220
A common sort of, cloned army
of physical perfection.
592
00:31:14,220 --> 00:31:16,940
Although they can't breed, 80%
of the Sakura trees in Japan
593
00:31:16,940 --> 00:31:20,460
look identical
because they are identical.
594
00:31:20,460 --> 00:31:22,820
But the Japanese passion for Sakura
isn't just limited to
595
00:31:22,820 --> 00:31:29,380
this one modern variety.
596
00:31:29,380 --> 00:31:31,380
There are dedicated
Sakura guardians
597
00:31:31,380 --> 00:31:33,420
who care for all varieties
of cherry trees.
598
00:31:33,420 --> 00:31:36,860
They travel all over Japan
safeguarding treasured specimens
599
00:31:36,860 --> 00:31:42,780
like the famous 1000-year-old
Takizakura in Fukushima.
600
00:31:42,780 --> 00:31:46,420
So, I've come to meet
one of the most
601
00:31:46,420 --> 00:31:49,860
celebrated Sakura guardians.
Mr Sano.
602
00:31:49,860 --> 00:31:55,100
He's the 16th generation in
a gardening dynasty that stretches
603
00:31:55,100 --> 00:31:57,820
back to samurai times.
604
00:31:57,820 --> 00:32:00,860
At 89 years old,
he's the most distinguished
605
00:32:00,860 --> 00:32:05,100
Sakura guardian in Kyoto,
possibly the whole of Japan.
606
00:32:05,100 --> 00:32:07,500
His lifelong passion
is to conserve the country's
607
00:32:07,500 --> 00:32:11,580
species of wild cherry.
608
00:32:11,580 --> 00:32:13,220
This one's really beautiful.
609
00:32:13,220 --> 00:32:17,140
What's this one called?
610
00:32:17,140 --> 00:32:23,380
SAYS JAPANESE NAME
611
00:32:23,380 --> 00:32:25,740
When you see a tree like this,
612
00:32:25,740 --> 00:32:27,060
how'd you decide whether
it's healthy?
613
00:32:27,060 --> 00:32:28,860
What do you look for?
614
00:32:28,860 --> 00:32:38,340
You have a hammer?
615
00:32:38,340 --> 00:32:44,260
There's a completely
different sound.
616
00:32:44,260 --> 00:32:46,180
Wow!
617
00:32:46,180 --> 00:32:48,700
It's like a doctor
using a stethoscope.
618
00:32:48,700 --> 00:32:51,220
Using audible signals
to detect which part
619
00:32:51,220 --> 00:32:53,860
of the tree are alive
and which parts are dead,
620
00:32:53,860 --> 00:33:01,940
just by tapping and
listening to the sound.
621
00:33:01,940 --> 00:33:08,180
What are you looking for that?
622
00:33:10,580 --> 00:33:13,340
So, the more nectar
it's producing, it's a sign
623
00:33:13,340 --> 00:33:15,140
of good health.
624
00:33:15,140 --> 00:33:20,380
That makes sense.
625
00:33:20,380 --> 00:33:25,260
Mr Sano doesn't just care
for the trees, his family have been
626
00:33:25,260 --> 00:33:27,620
collecting rare cherry varieties
and planting them in their cherry
627
00:33:27,620 --> 00:33:31,180
orchards for generations.
628
00:33:31,180 --> 00:33:35,660
He has 150 types and thousands
of individual trees.
629
00:33:35,660 --> 00:33:40,380
It's a botanical ark.
630
00:33:40,380 --> 00:33:42,340
The way you talk about cherry trees
sometimes,
631
00:33:42,340 --> 00:33:51,260
it's almost like they have spirits.
632
00:34:02,900 --> 00:34:06,020
Japanese people love Sakura
but what is it they love
633
00:34:06,020 --> 00:34:12,220
so much about it?
634
00:34:15,300 --> 00:34:18,380
I guess it's impossible to explain.
635
00:34:18,380 --> 00:34:24,220
Do you mean
it's a difficult question?
636
00:34:31,980 --> 00:34:35,060
What I love is your answer
about why you love the Sakura.
637
00:34:35,060 --> 00:34:37,660
People ask me all the time
why I love plants.
638
00:34:37,660 --> 00:34:40,700
There's no answer.
You just love them.
639
00:34:40,700 --> 00:34:50,620
Or you don't.
You can't explain it.
640
00:34:58,100 --> 00:35:01,660
We're in a park in Tokyo and just
the other side of that temple is
641
00:35:01,660 --> 00:35:06,740
where everyone is having
their picnics and parties.
642
00:35:06,740 --> 00:35:12,580
That will go on
well into the evening
643
00:35:12,580 --> 00:35:15,060
and, apparently, it can get
really wild after dark.
644
00:35:15,060 --> 00:35:16,940
Wild after dark
but what about wildlife itself?
645
00:35:16,940 --> 00:35:22,460
In particular, birds.
646
00:35:22,460 --> 00:35:24,940
There is one species that has
a very close relationship
647
00:35:24,940 --> 00:35:26,620
with the cherry blossom.
648
00:35:26,620 --> 00:35:28,420
In fact, in springtime,
for a short period,
649
00:35:28,420 --> 00:35:30,460
it's pretty much dependent upon it.
650
00:35:30,460 --> 00:35:33,300
I wanted to find these birds,
so I went of to Kyoto
651
00:35:33,300 --> 00:35:38,380
botanical garden in search of them.
652
00:35:38,380 --> 00:35:41,060
Mention Japanese white eye
to anyone here in Japan,
653
00:35:41,060 --> 00:35:43,260
they'll know exactly
what you're talking about.
654
00:35:43,260 --> 00:35:45,700
The little green
bird in the blossom.
655
00:35:45,700 --> 00:35:50,580
A common songbird.
656
00:35:50,580 --> 00:35:52,820
People find them
in their gardens but they are
657
00:35:52,820 --> 00:35:54,820
absolutely synonymous
with the Sakura.
658
00:35:54,820 --> 00:35:56,460
You will see them
in Japanese paintings.
659
00:35:56,460 --> 00:35:58,060
Hanging acrobatically
to one of these
660
00:35:58,060 --> 00:36:00,740
branches covered in blossom.
661
00:36:00,740 --> 00:36:02,980
We have seen them
in the paintings but
662
00:36:02,980 --> 00:36:08,060
seeing them out here
is sometimes a lot more difficult.
663
00:36:08,060 --> 00:36:10,820
You see, they are
quite small
664
00:36:10,820 --> 00:36:15,580
and they are very fast-moving.
So, this could take some time.
665
00:36:15,580 --> 00:36:19,220
Early morning is
a good time to look for them.
666
00:36:19,220 --> 00:36:20,580
Because overnight
the blossoms have refilled
667
00:36:20,580 --> 00:36:23,020
with nectar.
668
00:36:23,020 --> 00:36:25,180
There are so many different
species in these gardens.
669
00:36:25,180 --> 00:36:29,580
Japanese Pygmy woodpeckers.
670
00:36:29,580 --> 00:36:32,180
Japanese cross beak.
671
00:36:32,180 --> 00:36:35,860
And dusky thrush.
672
00:36:35,860 --> 00:36:38,740
But, still, no white eyes.
673
00:36:38,740 --> 00:36:48,460
Or are there?
674
00:36:48,460 --> 00:36:52,100
There are two.
675
00:36:52,100 --> 00:36:58,980
There are two here.
676
00:36:58,980 --> 00:37:05,100
They are exquisite little birds.
677
00:37:05,100 --> 00:37:10,940
They are very nimble.
678
00:37:10,940 --> 00:37:16,700
Very acrobatic.
679
00:37:16,700 --> 00:37:19,180
They've got relatively short
but very rounded wings
680
00:37:19,180 --> 00:37:25,540
so they can twist and turn
and you see them doing
681
00:37:25,540 --> 00:37:27,740
this
as they hop through the bush.
682
00:37:27,740 --> 00:37:29,940
I've seen a lot of
white eyes, difference species
683
00:37:29,940 --> 00:37:32,020
around the world, but
never Japanese white eye before.
684
00:37:32,020 --> 00:37:34,900
So this is a tick for me.
685
00:37:34,900 --> 00:37:39,860
I tell you what else
is in here, great tit.
686
00:37:39,860 --> 00:37:43,700
And there's a couple of brown
or chestnut eared bulbuls.
687
00:37:43,700 --> 00:37:45,780
It's a very busy tree.
688
00:37:45,780 --> 00:37:49,420
But this tree, at this time of year,
is a sugar factory.
689
00:37:49,420 --> 00:37:52,060
And that resource is not
going to be wasted by nature.
690
00:37:52,060 --> 00:37:55,020
So all of these birds
have come into this one
691
00:37:55,020 --> 00:38:00,900
particularly candy floss tree
to have their breakfast.
692
00:38:00,900 --> 00:38:03,620
There may be lots of birds
feasting on the nectar here.
693
00:38:03,620 --> 00:38:09,100
But few can match the white-eye's
efficient design.
694
00:38:09,100 --> 00:38:12,620
And I'm able to perfectly
illustrate that using
695
00:38:12,620 --> 00:38:14,980
the ancient Japanese art of origami.
696
00:38:14,980 --> 00:38:19,660
Here we have a white-eye.
697
00:38:19,660 --> 00:38:21,740
In 400 folds.
698
00:38:21,740 --> 00:38:25,260
And here is a model
of the blossom itself.
699
00:38:25,260 --> 00:38:29,900
What you can see is when
the bird is foraging for
700
00:38:29,900 --> 00:38:33,060
nectar, it sticks its beak down here
into the flour's nectarine
701
00:38:33,060 --> 00:38:36,460
and it's able to reach it.
702
00:38:36,460 --> 00:38:38,980
Inside its power that has
a tongue with a little
703
00:38:38,980 --> 00:38:41,540
frilly brush on the end of it
with which it withdraws
704
00:38:41,540 --> 00:38:46,860
the nectar very neatly,
like this, without damaging
705
00:38:46,860 --> 00:38:50,580
the flower.
706
00:38:50,580 --> 00:38:53,300
From the flower's point of view,
there's a to this because it
707
00:38:53,300 --> 00:38:56,420
deposits the pollen on the bird's
forehead so that when it flies away,
708
00:38:56,420 --> 00:38:59,700
and then comes to the next tree,
with blossom, and it inserts
709
00:38:59,700 --> 00:39:03,140
its beak,
it transfers the pollen,
710
00:39:03,140 --> 00:39:04,740
effects fertilisation
and all species are happy.
711
00:39:04,740 --> 00:39:05,980
All explained in paper.
712
00:39:05,980 --> 00:39:14,780
Fantastic.
713
00:39:14,780 --> 00:39:17,180
For the Japanese, the arrival
of Sakura signals the start
714
00:39:17,180 --> 00:39:22,140
of Hanami.
715
00:39:22,140 --> 00:39:24,900
Hanami literally translated
means looking at flowers.
716
00:39:24,900 --> 00:39:28,500
And for generations
is also being synonymous
717
00:39:28,500 --> 00:39:31,420
with picnics under the blooms.
718
00:39:31,420 --> 00:39:36,460
The Sakura season also coincides
with the start of the
719
00:39:36,460 --> 00:39:43,780
financial year,
a perfect reason for Japan's
720
00:39:43,780 --> 00:39:45,980
hard-working businessmen
to let their hair down and party.
721
00:39:45,980 --> 00:39:49,060
Hanami!
722
00:39:49,060 --> 00:39:53,300
And there is no more
prestigious addition to any
723
00:39:53,300 --> 00:39:55,540
celebration than the attendance
of Japan's most ancient
724
00:39:55,540 --> 00:39:57,140
and enchanting entertainers.
725
00:39:57,140 --> 00:40:00,820
The geisha.
726
00:40:00,820 --> 00:40:05,900
But, for the majority,
it's still very much a
727
00:40:05,900 --> 00:40:15,620
family affair with most Japanese
celebrating with their relatives.
728
00:40:20,420 --> 00:40:23,780
James has been invited to join
some families at Kyoto's Temple
729
00:40:23,780 --> 00:40:28,620
where the festivities
are also in full swing.
730
00:40:28,620 --> 00:40:29,700
Hello, everyone.
731
00:40:29,700 --> 00:40:31,860
Hello!
732
00:40:31,860 --> 00:40:33,940
Ken, I've got you this.
733
00:40:33,940 --> 00:40:37,540
I have to confess,
I don't know what it is.
734
00:40:37,540 --> 00:40:40,420
That is a Sakura dangle.
735
00:40:40,420 --> 00:40:43,020
I've got you something you like?
736
00:40:43,020 --> 00:40:47,060
I've noticed,
is that a Sakura petal?
737
00:40:47,060 --> 00:40:50,380
That is Sakura flower
and that is Sakura leaf.
738
00:40:50,380 --> 00:40:53,620
I've noticed, Ken,
these adorable characters.
739
00:40:53,620 --> 00:40:56,700
Explain that to me.
740
00:40:56,700 --> 00:40:59,940
That is for my children.
It is, kind of, bear...
741
00:40:59,940 --> 00:41:02,780
You've made yourself?
742
00:41:02,780 --> 00:41:06,460
These are very traditional
Japanese foods.
743
00:41:06,460 --> 00:41:10,020
Sometimes the children don't
like that traditional old taste.
744
00:41:10,020 --> 00:41:11,540
Children don't like it.
745
00:41:11,540 --> 00:41:13,740
Pretty shapes.
746
00:41:13,740 --> 00:41:19,820
Children are the same
all over the world.
747
00:41:21,340 --> 00:41:24,020
Why is Hanami important to you?
748
00:41:24,020 --> 00:41:26,780
Hanami is a New Year event.
749
00:41:26,780 --> 00:41:30,340
So, this is special.
750
00:41:30,340 --> 00:41:35,300
Very special.
751
00:41:35,300 --> 00:41:37,900
We come together with
all my family and join
752
00:41:37,900 --> 00:41:38,900
to have a picnic.
753
00:41:38,900 --> 00:41:40,980
That's mostly important.
754
00:41:40,980 --> 00:41:42,620
So, food is...
Secondary.
755
00:41:42,620 --> 00:41:44,620
Yeah.
You have three generations.
756
00:41:44,620 --> 00:41:47,260
And you say food is secondary
but this is the most perfect
757
00:41:47,260 --> 00:41:48,900
picnic I've ever seen.
758
00:41:48,900 --> 00:41:56,740
I'm jealous.
I want to be part of your family.
759
00:42:03,540 --> 00:42:08,180
Darkness has fallen here
in the part and, I have
760
00:42:08,180 --> 00:42:11,260
to say, with the blossom fully out,
the parties are in full swing.
761
00:42:11,260 --> 00:42:15,340
Some of these people
have been drinking
762
00:42:15,340 --> 00:42:17,140
sake, I think,
since about lunchtime.
763
00:42:17,140 --> 00:42:19,500
It's beginning to get
a little bit lairy.
764
00:42:19,500 --> 00:42:22,540
I must say, it's a very different
feel to the one James
765
00:42:22,540 --> 00:42:24,820
was enjoying which was much more
of a family atmosphere.
766
00:42:24,820 --> 00:42:27,460
This is a lot of young
people, a lot of students.
767
00:42:27,460 --> 00:42:29,820
As you can see, the cherry blossom
is illuminated everywhere.
768
00:42:29,820 --> 00:42:32,460
Everyone is trying
to get in our shot.
769
00:42:32,460 --> 00:42:34,420
As Chris said,
the sake is flowing and
770
00:42:34,420 --> 00:42:36,380
I think it's about
time we joined in.
771
00:42:36,380 --> 00:42:38,020
I've got a sake in my backpack.
772
00:42:38,020 --> 00:42:39,020
Come on, Chris.
773
00:42:39,020 --> 00:42:40,660
I'm going to meet the people.
774
00:42:40,660 --> 00:42:42,340
You meet the people.
775
00:42:42,340 --> 00:42:44,540
I'm going to find
a sober corner to hang
776
00:42:44,540 --> 00:42:46,100
out with some businessmen, I think.
777
00:42:46,100 --> 00:42:52,660
Obviously, I'm going
to look for somebody
778
00:42:52,660 --> 00:42:54,340
that speaks
a little bit of English.
779
00:42:54,340 --> 00:42:55,740
Because my Japanese is terrible.
780
00:42:55,740 --> 00:43:01,620
These guys look nice.
Can I join?
781
00:43:01,620 --> 00:43:07,260
Oh my goodness,
I've made friends very quickly.
782
00:43:07,260 --> 00:43:08,500
Do you speak English?
783
00:43:08,500 --> 00:43:13,220
Yes!
784
00:43:13,220 --> 00:43:14,820
Look, I have some sake.
785
00:43:14,820 --> 00:43:16,660
Very good.
Very good.
786
00:43:16,660 --> 00:43:18,700
Are you all enjoying yourselves?
787
00:43:18,700 --> 00:43:20,900
Oh my goodness.
788
00:43:20,900 --> 00:43:25,300
OK, Cheers!
789
00:43:25,300 --> 00:43:29,860
Here's a quiet corner.
790
00:43:29,860 --> 00:43:32,420
I'm not entirely sure this
is business going on over here
791
00:43:32,420 --> 00:43:36,780
but at least it's not a riot.
792
00:43:36,780 --> 00:43:38,980
I'm going to see
what they make of us.
793
00:43:38,980 --> 00:43:39,980
Good evening.
794
00:43:39,980 --> 00:43:41,500
May I interrupt you briefly?
795
00:43:41,500 --> 00:43:42,180
Chris.
796
00:43:42,180 --> 00:43:43,100
Hi.
797
00:43:43,100 --> 00:43:45,060
My name is Oka.
798
00:43:45,060 --> 00:43:47,540
May I ask you a couple
of questions about your picnic?
799
00:43:47,540 --> 00:43:56,620
Firstly, why picnic
under the blossom?
800
00:44:00,300 --> 00:44:01,700
It's a good place to party?
801
00:44:01,700 --> 00:44:03,500
Yes.
802
00:44:03,500 --> 00:44:10,180
Will you come tomorrow night?
803
00:44:16,140 --> 00:44:20,380
Drink and then you get warm.
804
00:44:20,380 --> 00:44:24,220
Drink more sake and we get warm.
805
00:44:24,220 --> 00:44:25,260
Yes.
806
00:44:25,260 --> 00:44:26,900
That's a good idea.
807
00:44:26,900 --> 00:44:36,380
Will you be at work
on time in the morning?
808
00:44:36,380 --> 00:44:37,340
From nine.
809
00:44:37,340 --> 00:44:38,460
From nine?
810
00:44:38,460 --> 00:44:39,940
And all of your friends, too?
811
00:44:39,940 --> 00:44:42,580
Yes, I guess all my friends have
work tomorrow, I guess.
812
00:44:42,580 --> 00:44:43,500
OK.
813
00:44:43,500 --> 00:44:46,420
And will this be your only picnic,
or will you come back for more?
814
00:44:48,260 --> 00:44:50,100
It's absolutely fantastic,
and you know what?
815
00:44:50,100 --> 00:44:52,980
I think this could be a late night,
and it won't be Chris's
816
00:44:52,980 --> 00:44:53,940
first on this trip.
817
00:44:53,940 --> 00:44:55,980
Not because he's been out
drinking and partying,
818
00:44:55,980 --> 00:44:58,620
but he's been on a mission to find
another night-time reveller
819
00:44:58,620 --> 00:45:02,540
but also might make the most
of these Hanami parties.
820
00:45:09,540 --> 00:45:13,060
I'm on the prowl for a prowler.
821
00:45:13,060 --> 00:45:18,180
It's got a bandit mask, velvet paws,
sneaks around in the shadows.
822
00:45:18,180 --> 00:45:20,300
You might think that I'm
talking about a manga
823
00:45:20,300 --> 00:45:24,220
character, or even a burglar.
824
00:45:24,220 --> 00:45:27,220
But no, I'm talking about an animal,
the Japanese raccoon dog, or tanuki,
825
00:45:27,220 --> 00:45:30,940
as they call them here.
826
00:45:30,940 --> 00:45:34,180
And what I'm particularly
interested in is what they eat
827
00:45:34,180 --> 00:45:37,020
in these urban areas,
and if they take advantage of any
828
00:45:37,020 --> 00:45:41,060
of those Hanami picnics taking
place under the blossom.
829
00:45:41,060 --> 00:45:43,300
But I have got a problem.
830
00:45:43,300 --> 00:45:46,260
Namely, they're very
difficult to find.
831
00:45:50,020 --> 00:45:52,260
They are said to have magical,
shape shifting powers,
832
00:45:52,260 --> 00:45:56,500
and bring good fortune
to all of those they meet.
833
00:45:56,500 --> 00:45:59,060
But they are extremely shy,
so to see one we've set up
834
00:45:59,060 --> 00:46:01,740
an infrared camera in a piece
of woodland quite close by,
835
00:46:01,740 --> 00:46:04,020
and we're tucked away out
of sight so that hopefully
836
00:46:04,020 --> 00:46:07,540
we don't scare them.
837
00:46:07,540 --> 00:46:11,740
That's if they turn up, of course.
838
00:46:11,740 --> 00:46:13,740
Do you know, I first started
waiting to see animals
839
00:46:13,740 --> 00:46:17,140
when I was five years old.
840
00:46:17,140 --> 00:46:19,500
I'm now 55 years old,
and guess what?
841
00:46:19,500 --> 00:46:23,940
I'm still waiting to see animals.
842
00:46:23,940 --> 00:46:26,340
But, with a little bit
of luck, or a tanuki,
843
00:46:26,340 --> 00:46:28,700
tonight could be the night.
844
00:46:31,980 --> 00:46:36,140
Tanuki are a unique subspecies
of raccoon dog, found only in Japan,
845
00:46:36,140 --> 00:46:40,780
and at this time of year,
they start to become more active.
846
00:46:44,060 --> 00:46:46,860
Despite their name and their masked
appearance, they are not a raccoon
847
00:46:46,860 --> 00:46:48,020
and they're not a dog.
848
00:46:48,020 --> 00:46:50,300
But they are a member
of the canid family,
849
00:46:50,300 --> 00:46:56,020
very distantly related to things
like wolves, foxes and jackals.
850
00:46:56,020 --> 00:46:58,660
And just like foxes back at home
in the UK monopolising
851
00:46:58,660 --> 00:47:00,620
the ready food supply,
they have taken comfortably
852
00:47:00,620 --> 00:47:04,740
to life on the street.
853
00:47:04,740 --> 00:47:07,860
Meaning our best chance
of spotting one is actually
854
00:47:07,860 --> 00:47:12,700
in the suburbs of Tokyo.
855
00:47:12,700 --> 00:47:16,140
Earlier today, I met up
with Dr Sakei Takasuki,
856
00:47:16,140 --> 00:47:17,420
or Taka to his friends.
857
00:47:17,420 --> 00:47:19,940
And he's been studying the local
population here to discover how
858
00:47:19,940 --> 00:47:22,740
diverse their feeding habits are.
859
00:47:24,260 --> 00:47:27,660
The thing is, this latrine, Taka,
is a very close to those houses.
860
00:47:27,660 --> 00:47:30,700
If you wore on this balcony
later this evening, there is a good
861
00:47:30,700 --> 00:47:33,980
chance you might see them.
862
00:47:33,980 --> 00:47:36,860
One day, the lady living
here told me she often find raccoon
863
00:47:36,860 --> 00:47:41,540
dog walking around here.
864
00:47:41,540 --> 00:47:43,540
Really?
865
00:47:43,540 --> 00:47:46,980
Taka, I see you've got cameras set
up on the tree here, trip cameras.
866
00:47:46,980 --> 00:47:49,340
Do they tell you how many
animals are visiting here?
867
00:47:49,340 --> 00:47:51,260
Are you able to identify
them as individuals?
868
00:47:51,260 --> 00:47:54,500
At least three.
869
00:47:54,500 --> 00:48:01,420
Because the camera took video,
and two came and defecated.
870
00:48:01,420 --> 00:48:05,500
And then after that,
just after that, another one came,
871
00:48:05,500 --> 00:48:07,660
a different individual,
so I guess at least three,
872
00:48:07,660 --> 00:48:12,460
and probably more use this latrine.
873
00:48:15,460 --> 00:48:18,420
Do we have enough samples,
or do you need a couple more?
874
00:48:18,420 --> 00:48:19,340
One or two more.
875
00:48:19,340 --> 00:48:20,500
OK.
876
00:48:20,500 --> 00:48:22,100
Let's go for this.
877
00:48:31,260 --> 00:48:32,780
Some plastic.
878
00:48:32,780 --> 00:48:34,580
Plastic?
879
00:48:36,300 --> 00:48:42,260
This is the seed of dogwood.
880
00:48:42,260 --> 00:48:45,140
So we've got a mix here
of food that they forage
881
00:48:45,140 --> 00:48:47,260
for themselves like the dogwood,
and there is more vegetable
882
00:48:47,260 --> 00:48:50,580
material in there as well.
883
00:48:50,580 --> 00:48:53,300
But it looks to me like they've also
been scavenging around
884
00:48:53,300 --> 00:48:55,300
human food remains there.
885
00:48:55,300 --> 00:48:57,500
Yes.
886
00:48:57,500 --> 00:49:00,140
Taka, given that so many people
picnic underneath the cherry trees,
887
00:49:00,140 --> 00:49:03,700
and then they tie up their bags
and they leave it behind,
888
00:49:03,700 --> 00:49:06,780
do you think that the tanuki might
be tempted to have a little cherry
889
00:49:06,780 --> 00:49:08,780
blossom festival of their own?
890
00:49:08,780 --> 00:49:12,100
In general, yes.
891
00:49:12,100 --> 00:49:14,740
But cherries are planted in parks,
and I don't think raccoon dogs
892
00:49:14,740 --> 00:49:18,300
prefer such habitat.
893
00:49:18,300 --> 00:49:20,900
You see, I've seen raccoon dogs
in zoos, but I've never
894
00:49:20,900 --> 00:49:23,300
seen one in the wild.
895
00:49:23,300 --> 00:49:26,940
Is there any chance that you might
mark some bait for me to put out
896
00:49:26,940 --> 00:49:29,780
tonight so that I might get a chance
of seeing a tanuki?
897
00:49:29,780 --> 00:49:30,740
Is that possible?
898
00:49:30,740 --> 00:49:32,380
Let's do that, yes.
899
00:49:32,380 --> 00:49:34,300
I have sausage, so we can do that.
900
00:49:34,300 --> 00:49:40,740
Excellent.
901
00:49:40,740 --> 00:49:45,140
I like a strategically
placed sausage, myself.
902
00:49:45,140 --> 00:49:50,300
Some are little higher up
where we can see that.
903
00:49:50,300 --> 00:49:51,500
This means for good luck.
904
00:49:51,500 --> 00:49:52,500
Good luck.
905
00:49:52,500 --> 00:49:57,820
We are going to need it!
906
00:49:57,820 --> 00:50:03,500
So, as darkness falls,
all we can do is wait.
907
00:50:16,100 --> 00:50:16,860
Yes!
908
00:50:17,900 --> 00:50:18,540
Yes!
909
00:50:19,740 --> 00:50:20,980
Yes!
910
00:50:20,980 --> 00:50:21,980
Oh, yeah.
911
00:50:21,980 --> 00:50:22,980
Very nice.
912
00:50:22,980 --> 00:50:24,020
What about that?
913
00:50:24,020 --> 00:50:27,340
Bang on cue.
914
00:50:27,340 --> 00:50:28,460
Smelling.
915
00:50:28,460 --> 00:50:29,540
Look at that.
916
00:50:29,540 --> 00:50:34,140
Wow.
917
00:50:34,140 --> 00:50:39,460
What about that?
918
00:50:39,460 --> 00:50:45,460
If I had all the time I'd spent
waiting to see animals,
919
00:50:45,460 --> 00:50:48,580
I'd spend all the time I had waiting
to see animals, because when they
920
00:50:48,580 --> 00:50:49,700
show up, it's fantastic!
921
00:50:49,700 --> 00:50:56,700
Yes.
922
00:50:56,700 --> 00:50:57,860
What about that?
923
00:50:57,860 --> 00:51:02,420
That was great, wasn't it?
924
00:51:02,420 --> 00:51:04,300
Oh, Chris, I'd love
to see those tanuki.
925
00:51:04,300 --> 00:51:08,820
They looked so cool.
926
00:51:08,820 --> 00:51:11,940
In fact, do you think if I stay
in this park long enough
927
00:51:11,940 --> 00:51:14,620
until it gets really dark,
I might go back and party
928
00:51:14,620 --> 00:51:17,260
with those guys, then I might
see one in this park?
929
00:51:17,260 --> 00:51:19,900
I think if you drink as much
sake as they've had,
930
00:51:19,900 --> 00:51:23,180
you could see anything in this park,
to be quite honest with you!
931
00:51:23,180 --> 00:51:25,060
But unlikely a tanuki,
although having said that,
932
00:51:25,060 --> 00:51:28,220
Taka did tell me that they do occur
right in the centre of Tokyo,
933
00:51:28,220 --> 00:51:30,420
but they like it a little
bit quieter, somewhere
934
00:51:30,420 --> 00:51:33,020
but they like it a little bit
quieter, somewhere where there's
935
00:51:33,020 --> 00:51:35,340
plenty of undergrowth for them
to hide away in.
936
00:51:35,340 --> 00:51:37,540
Probably far too many people here,
although having said that,
937
00:51:37,540 --> 00:51:40,380
it has started to quieten down,
partly because it's got a little
938
00:51:40,380 --> 00:51:41,380
bit chilly, hasn't it?
939
00:51:41,380 --> 00:51:42,860
Very nippy.
940
00:51:42,860 --> 00:51:45,180
But I've absolutely loved
being part of this natural
941
00:51:45,180 --> 00:51:47,540
celebration of spring,
and I love the fact that it's
942
00:51:47,540 --> 00:51:50,460
all ages that join in, you know,
from the families that James
943
00:51:50,460 --> 00:51:52,820
was partying with to students,
to businessmen, people our age
944
00:51:52,820 --> 00:51:56,300
and above, all generations enjoy
this arrival of spring.
945
00:51:56,300 --> 00:52:00,340
And I like the degree of effort
they put into making sure
946
00:52:00,340 --> 00:52:02,700
that they get all of the timing,
all of the predictions,
947
00:52:02,700 --> 00:52:03,940
exactly right.
948
00:52:03,940 --> 00:52:06,220
I mean, it's big business,
that comes into it, too,
949
00:52:06,220 --> 00:52:08,620
but you get a real sense
of anticipation here.
950
00:52:08,620 --> 00:52:11,540
Everyone's waiting for this blossom,
so they can go out and get happy.
951
00:52:11,540 --> 00:52:12,780
Very happy, in some cases.
952
00:52:12,780 --> 00:52:14,220
Do you know what I like?
953
00:52:14,220 --> 00:52:16,980
I like the fact that this is a very
organised, formal society,
954
00:52:16,980 --> 00:52:19,220
but the time to party
is dictated by nature.
955
00:52:19,220 --> 00:52:21,020
It's brilliant.
956
00:52:21,020 --> 00:52:22,620
It is brilliant.
957
00:52:22,620 --> 00:52:25,820
And we've saved perhaps the most
brilliant thing till last,
958
00:52:25,820 --> 00:52:31,420
because quite a few hours south
of here is a very special spot
959
00:52:31,420 --> 00:52:33,540
where nature and spirituality
combine to produce the world's
960
00:52:33,540 --> 00:52:35,660
greatest blossom spectacle.
961
00:52:35,660 --> 00:52:38,740
And James has been lucky
enough to go and see it.
962
00:52:43,980 --> 00:52:45,780
Over 300 miles south
of Tokyo, Mount Yoshino
963
00:52:45,780 --> 00:52:49,540
is an extraordinary sight.
964
00:52:53,780 --> 00:52:56,540
Covered in 30,000 cherry trees,
it isn't difficult to see why it's
965
00:52:56,540 --> 00:53:00,020
known as the pink mountain.
966
00:53:09,180 --> 00:53:11,980
But the spectacle we see today
owes its beauty to a very
967
00:53:11,980 --> 00:53:14,020
special relationship.
968
00:53:17,300 --> 00:53:21,780
Mount Yoshino has been a centre
of pilgrimage for over 1000 years,
969
00:53:21,780 --> 00:53:26,020
and Kinpusen Temple is the main site
of worship on the mountain.
970
00:53:26,020 --> 00:53:29,660
It arguably the most important
temple in Shugendo, a Japanese
971
00:53:29,660 --> 00:53:34,380
religion of mountain worshipping.
972
00:53:41,300 --> 00:53:45,940
A religion that largely blends
Buddhism and Shintoism,
973
00:53:45,940 --> 00:53:48,540
this head temple was founded
in the mid-7th century, and is
974
00:53:48,540 --> 00:53:50,780
listed as a world heritage site.
975
00:53:53,460 --> 00:53:55,500
It's home to these magnificent
carvings of Zao Gongen,
976
00:53:55,500 --> 00:54:03,820
the mountain deity.
977
00:54:03,820 --> 00:54:07,060
One of the most important figures
in the whole of Shegundo,
978
00:54:07,060 --> 00:54:11,300
representing the past,
present and future of Buddha.
979
00:54:11,300 --> 00:54:14,180
And it's such a privilege to be
here and able to see them,
980
00:54:14,180 --> 00:54:16,380
because they are only
on show to the public
981
00:54:16,380 --> 00:54:18,020
when the Sakura are blossoming.
982
00:54:18,020 --> 00:54:22,260
Just a couple of weeks, once a year.
983
00:54:28,380 --> 00:54:32,620
The temple was established
by En-no-Gyoja, the fabled founder
984
00:54:32,620 --> 00:54:34,900
of the Shugendo religion.
985
00:54:34,900 --> 00:54:38,940
And it's been associated
with cherry blossom ever since.
986
00:54:38,940 --> 00:54:41,060
So I'm meeting one of
the most important monks
987
00:54:41,060 --> 00:54:42,740
here to find out why.
988
00:54:44,580 --> 00:54:46,940
Goja-san, it's such a beautiful
temple right at the top
989
00:54:46,940 --> 00:54:49,100
of the mountain, but why build
a temple so high up?
990
00:55:04,660 --> 00:55:06,740
This mountain in front
of us is just incredible,
991
00:55:06,740 --> 00:55:11,420
covered in cherry trees.
992
00:55:11,420 --> 00:55:12,660
Is there a reason for that?
993
00:55:43,180 --> 00:55:44,740
People still plant
Sakura, I'm imagining.
994
00:55:44,740 --> 00:55:46,180
Have you ever planted Sakura?
995
00:56:01,420 --> 00:56:02,940
What does Sakura mean to you?
996
00:56:47,540 --> 00:56:52,900
The relationship with Sakura
is so interwoven, both
997
00:56:52,900 --> 00:57:01,340
spiritually and culturally,
with people here, that this
998
00:57:01,340 --> 00:57:03,380
sacred tree will be planted
for generations to come.
999
00:57:03,380 --> 00:57:05,340
Ensuring that Mount Yoshino
continues to turn pink
1000
00:57:05,340 --> 00:57:08,260
for another thousand years.
1001
00:57:12,460 --> 00:57:13,860
What a thing.
1002
00:57:13,860 --> 00:57:15,340
What a thing, that was amazing.
1003
00:57:15,340 --> 00:57:18,620
Absolutely stunning.
1004
00:57:18,620 --> 00:57:20,460
Stunning indeed, but you know,
Michaela, I've been
1005
00:57:20,460 --> 00:57:22,020
thinking about the Japanese
and their obsession
1006
00:57:22,020 --> 00:57:28,980
with this blossom.
1007
00:57:28,980 --> 00:57:30,980
It's highlighted for me
a real contrast in the
1008
00:57:30,980 --> 00:57:32,220
country and its culture.
1009
00:57:32,220 --> 00:57:34,500
I mean, some aspects of it I find
incredibly confusing,
1010
00:57:34,500 --> 00:57:35,820
desperately frustrating.
1011
00:57:35,820 --> 00:57:37,100
Others are very
exciting and alluring.
1012
00:57:37,100 --> 00:57:39,860
I would love to come back
and witness and enjoy this fantastic
1013
00:57:39,860 --> 00:57:40,820
spring festival again.
1014
00:57:40,820 --> 00:57:43,180
Chris, have you noticed how
the blossom looks down?
1015
00:57:43,180 --> 00:57:44,820
It's almost as if it
appreciates and thrives
1016
00:57:44,820 --> 00:57:47,860
on people looking up at it.
1017
00:57:47,860 --> 00:57:51,740
Or do you think I've
had too much sake?
1018
00:57:51,740 --> 00:57:54,580
You might have had a little bit
too much sake there!
1019
00:57:54,580 --> 00:58:02,820
But what I do love is the fact
that the blossom has a short, showy,
1020
00:58:02,820 --> 00:58:05,580
spectacular life that people
applaud and celebrate,
1021
00:58:05,580 --> 00:58:07,300
and it's all in glorious pink.
1022
00:58:07,300 --> 00:58:08,980
I mean, what's not to love?
80822
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