Small signs point to return of spring in northern Japan, Misawa AB-area

Far East Amur adonis (Photo by Yoshihito Morita/Stripes Japan)

While Japan’s Kanto is enjoying the arrival of early spring florals like ume plum blossoms and kawazusakura cherry blossoms, the northern portions of the mainland remain chilly with the frigid temperatures to maintain through the end of April.

At Yoshihito Morita’s home in Tohokucho Town near Misawa Air Base, however, tiny yellow blossoms are starting to peak through signaling that spring is just around the corner.

Morita, an employee at the Misawa Air Base Commissary, said the small flowers called “fukujuso” or Far East Amur adonis, are popping up around his snow-piled garden.

Far East Amur adonis (Photo by Yoshihito Morita/Stripes Japan)

(Photo by Yoshihito Morita/Stripes Japan)

Fukujuso starts blooming in the early spring and are the type of flower that opens to the sunlight but closes at night and on cloudy days.

Morita said that the blossoms are a reminder of vitality in the cold.

Much like the fukujuso, we eagerly await the arrival of spring in the chilly northern regions of Japan.