People love walking or picnicking under the trees during the cherry blossom viewing season
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenAssociated PressPublished: 12:22pm, 4 Apr 2026Many of Tokyo’s popular and iconic Somei Yoshino cherry blossom trees were planted during Japan’s post-war advancement in the 1960s, and are now getting old and frail.Some have fallen and many others require support, triggering safety concern as the Japanese celebrate the season of their favourite flower.
The tree in Kinuta Park was 18 metres (60 feet) tall and 2.5 metres in diameter. It was among the oldest, believed to be more than 60 years old, officials said. In March, another old cherry tree collapsed at the park, injuring a passer-by.
Last year, 85 trees fell in Tokyo parks, injuring three people, and many were cherry trees, according to Masakazu Noguchi, a Tokyo metropolitan official in charge of public parks.
