Cherry blossom blooming tends to be quite regular each year here in East Asia, and the beginning of the season can usually be predicted down to within a few days. In both Japan and Korea, the blossoms generally bloom first at the most southern areas of the country (there are exceptions in the case of micro-climates), and then sweep up through the country over a period of weeks. In Japan this is called the sakura zensen (桜前線) or "cherry blossom front."Cherry blossoms are always the surest sign that spring has come to the land once again. It was a weekend of warm weather and flawless blue skies. As usual there was nary a downtrodden face to be seen beneath this part of the world's most beautiful, yet fleeting, confirmation of new life and the passage of the seasons.
