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Cherry blossoms in northern Japan in warm winter

AKITA, Japan - A cherry tree in the courtyard of Akita prefectural government blossoms in warm winter. Prefectural officials say the tree, one of two cherries planted in the courtyard, usually blossoms in mid-April. The other cherry tree, known in Japanese as Kinkimame cherry, which usually blossoms in late March, started blossoming on and off since November, its roots apparently warmed by hot-water pipes buried nearby the tree, officials say. The courtyard was used as a snow dumping site last year, and at one point 4 meters high of snow were dumped there after a huge snow storm hit the area. (Kyodo)