Japan’s cherry blossoms, or sakura, break records with early bloom. Experts say it’s due to global warming

Japan’s cherry blossoms have reached their flowery peak earlier this year than at any time since formal records started being kept nearly 70 years ago, with experts saying climate change was the likely cause.

Japan’s favourite flower, called “sakura”, used to reach peak bloom in April, just as the country celebrated the start of its new school and business year.

Yet that date has been creeping earlier, and now most years the blossoms are largely gone…