Japan’s famous cherry trees are getting old, but a new AI tool may help save them for the future.
Cherry blossom season, called sakura, is a special time in Japan. People look forward to seeing the pink and white flowers each spring. But many cherry trees are now 70 to 80 years old, which means they are past their best blooming age. This makes it harder and more expensive to take care of them.
To help, the Japanese company Kirin has made an AI tool called Sakura AI Camera. It works by looking at photos of the trees. People can take a picture with their phone and upload it to a website. The AI then checks the tree’s age and health. It gives a score from “very healthy” to “worrying”, but for now, it’s only in Japanese.
Experts trained the AI using 5,000 cherry tree photos. The tool also shows a map with the tree’s location and condition. Since the launch, about 20,000 photos have been uploaded. This data is free to use by local governments.
Kirin’s Risa Shioda said the tool helps reduce the time and money needed to check each tree. It also makes it easier to plan how to take care of them.
In Tokyo’s Meguro area, it costs about 1 million yen (about $6,800) to plant a new cherry tree. So, keeping the old ones healthy is very important.
Tree expert Hiroyuki Wada helped develop the tool. He hopes it can show how the environment is affecting the trees. He said climate change is likely part of the problem. Hotter weather and less rain are making things worse.
Japan’s weather agency said last year was the hottest ever. This adds more stress to the aging trees.
Kirin also donates money to help protect cherry trees. Many people enjoy beer at hanami (flower-viewing) parties under the blossoms. Shioda said Kirin wants to give back to the communities that enjoy their drinks.
Cherry blossoms are a symbol of life’s beauty and shortness in Japanese culture. The flowers bloom for only about a week, then fall. The season also marks new beginnings, like a new school or job year for many people.
Source: barrons
