By: Alex
After the cherry blossoms bloom, it’s the wisteria’s turn. The “Black Katsura Vine” in Yamato City, Fukuoka Prefecture, is expected to reach its peak blooming period on the 28th of this month. Unfortunately, the beautiful wisteria flowers have attracted a large number of visitors. To prevent gatherings and potential COVID-19 infections, the city government, after deliberation, has made the painful decision to cut down all the blooming wisteria flowers.
▲ City government staff cutting off the wisteria flower spikes. (Photo source: Nikkei Asia)
The “Black Katsura Vine” is located next to Susanoo Shrine in Yamato City, with an age of over 600 years, and is designated as a national natural monument. The massive vine is supported by a trellis covering about 3,000 square meters. Its pale purple flower spikes, about one meter long, sway in the wind and emit a sweet fragrance. It usually reaches full bloom from mid-April to early May, attracting 200,000 visitors last year.
▲ (Photo source: Nishinippon Shimbun)
Unfortunately, this year’s peak blooming period coincides with a severe pandemic, and authorities are urging people to stay home and avoid going out. However, officials found that around 2,000 people visited the site just last weekend, and Yamato City had no confirmed COVID-19 cases as of the 28th, causing great concern among city officials.
▲ To prevent crowds from gathering to view the flowers, the innocent Black Katsura Vine could not escape its fate. (Photo source: Nishinippon Shimbun)
▲ (Photo source: Nishinippon Shimbun)
Netizens expressed sorrow upon learning that the flowers of the “Black Katsura Vine” had been cut: “It feels very sad,” “I feel depressed inside,” “The flowers are not guilty after all...”. In fact, a similar incident occurred last week in Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture. The “Sakura Tulip Festival,” originally scheduled to be held at Sakura Hometown Square in Sakura City, saw the garden owner make the tough decision to cut all 800,000 flowers in the park after discovering hundreds of people ignoring warnings and gathering to admire the blossoms — a truly regrettable outcome.
▲ The unpruned Black Katsura Vine. (Photo source: Nishinippon Shimbun)
▲ Last year’s scene of people admiring the flowers. (Photo source: Fukuoka Charm Information Station)
▲ (Photo source: Fukuoka Charm Information Station)
▲ (Photo source: Fukuoka Charm Information Station)
▲ (Photo source: Fukuoka Charm Information Station)
Source: Grapee, Nishinippon Shimbun,Fukuoka Charm Information Station @FB