It's cherry blossom season in Japan. According to this story by the Associated Press' Mari Yamaguchi, the competition is fierce between the government weather forecast agency and private forecasting companies to accurately predict when the trees will start blossoming in different parts of Japan.Weathernews Inc. is a typical rival. It puts blossom forecasts and cherry blossom maps on its Web site, and provides weather information to 1.5 million individuals and 3,000 corporate subscribers, including 30 retailers.
The company's Web site also gives real-time cherry blossom condition reports, so visitors can click on an area and find out if it's time to pack a picnic basket — a service the Meteorological Agency does not provide.
"We just want to help people to enjoy the flowers," said Weathernews spokesman Masaki Ito. "Nothing is more disappointing than cherry festivals without flowers."
[snip]The competition goes far beyond aesthetics: Japan's cherry blossom party season means big bucks. Millions of people crowd the country's parks and spend freely on picnic tarps, food and drink. Stores and cities depend on forecasts to plan the revelry.
"We monitor the blossoms very closely, using both the Meteorological Agency and private forecasts," said Mayumi Ito, a spokeswoman for Seven & I Holdings Co., owner of 7-Eleven convenience stores. "Staffers also visit nearby parks to check the blossoms."
In anticipation of the flowers, the convenience chain doubles stocks of snacks, paper plates and cups, plastic tarps — and beer. The day before the season starts, it orders boxed lunch shipments. Sales at outlets near main cherry blossom parks tripled during last year's season, Ito said.
