"The cherry blossom season, Japan's traditional sign of spring, has peaked at the earliest date since records began 1,200 years ago, research shows.

The 2021 season in the city of Kyoto peaked on 26 March, according to data collected by Osaka University."

1200 years - which makes our weather diary look pretty humble - but similar theory.

Some strange weather coming out of that region - droughts in north eastern Taiwan - snow storms in northern Japan - warm winter in Kyoto. Be interesting how that plays out in terms of the monsoon and typhoons seasons