61.   Cherry blossom viewing is an annual ritual in Japan, most of which becomes ablaze with the pink flowers in full bloom in early April.

62.   Cherry blossom viewing is an annual ritual in Japan, most of which becomes ablaze with the pink flowers in early April.

63.   Cherry blossoms are cherished in Japan as a symbol of spring and the ephemeral nature of life and beauty.

64.   Cherry blossoms are prized by the Japanese as a symbol of the fleetingness of youth and beauty.

65.   Equipment breakdowns occurred as record numbers of riders used the system, including visitors in Washington to view the cherry blossoms near the National Mall.

66.   First, we ate off a gold lacquer tray on which five types of sashimi had been prettily arranged, decorated with a spray of cherry blossom.

67.   Japanese visitors watched pink confetti fashioned to look like cherry blossoms drift down, marking the new year in Tokyo.

68.   The annual cherry blossom season is a national obsession.

69.   The appearance of pink-and-white cherry blossoms is an anxiously awaited springtime event in Japan, where people crowd parks to picnic under the trees.

70.   The National Park Service hopes for a permanent reopening in February or March, before the cherry blossoms bloom in a major Washington rite of spring.