Many of Tokyo’s famous cherry blossom trees were planted during the 1960s. Now, they are getting old and weak.
Some trees have fallen, and many others need help. Officials are worried about people’s safety as they visit Japan’s most famous flower.
Two cherry blossom trees collapsed earlier this month. One fell at Kinuta Park and the other at the Chidorigafuchi greenway. The tree in Kinuta Park is thought to be over 60 years old.
In March, another old cherry tree fell in the park and hurt a person walking by. After this, officials did tree health checks but warned that visitors should still be careful.
Last year, 85 trees fell in Tokyo parks, injuring three people. Many of these were cherry trees, according to Masakazu Noguchi, a Tokyo metropolitan official in charge of public parks.
Many cherry trees are weak because of ageing and erosion by fungal growth.
