NEWS · B2 Level - Part 4

Japan's Annual Sakura Bloom Comes Early

Japan's cherry blossoms are once again in bloom. A fleeting fairyland lasting only about two weeks,

Level: B2 · 19 sentences

Transcript

  1. Japan's cherry blossoms are once again in bloom.
  2. A fleeting fairyland lasting only about two weeks,
  3. uniting locals and visitors in Tokyo under a canopy of pink and white.
  4. We were excited. We had heard that it was a big event.
  5. Everybody comes out, has a picnic, spends the day and...
  6. I love being around a lot of people and seeing everybody out just having a wonderful time together.
  7. The temperature-sensitive buds flowered 5 days earlier than last year,
  8. according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
  9. An earlier season that's raised some concerns in recent years
  10. about the potential impact climate change could have on the treasured trees.
  11. But some residents in Tokyo say the weather has been unusual lately.
  12. The recent temperatures changed quite a lot.
  13. And my body can't adjust to it.
  14. I think the cherry blossoms probably can't keep up with the changes either.
  15. Almost in sync with the cherry blossoms in Japan, Washington DC is also pretty and pink.
  16. The US National Park Service declaring peak bloom on Friday.
  17. The trees were gifts from Japan, first arriving in Washington in 1912.
  18. Last year Japan announced a new gift of 250 more trees to the US.
  19. Once again sharing the joy that people both in Tokyo and Washington try to enjoy as long as it lasts.