Cherry blossoms alias 'Sakura' bloom unexpectedly in Japan

Tokyo, Oct 18 (IANS) Some of Japan's famed cherry blossoms, also known as sakura, have bloomed unexpectedly this autumn, according to weather experts. The famous pink and white flowers are typically visible for about two weeks in the spring - a phenomenon tourists from around the world come to witness, the BBC reported. But more than 300 people have reported cherry blossoms in their neighbourhood in October, according to meteorological company Weathernews. The experts have said a series of typhoons could have contributed to the phenomenon. "This has happened in the past, but I don't remember seeing something of this scale," Hiroyuki Wada, a tree doctor at the Flower Association of Japan told public broadcaster NHK on Thursday. Japan was this year hit by a series of typhoons, including Typhoon Jebi - the strongest storm to hit the country in a quarter of a century. Typhoon Jebi killed at least 10 people and caused widespread destruction. --IANS