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1,200-year cherry blossom record to continue after scientist's death

natureApr 15, 2026584

Professor Yasuyuki Aono of Osaka Metropolitan University, WHO died, assembled and curated the 1,200-year cherry blossom bloom-date dataset. His meticulous records trace shifting flowering dates across more than a millennium and have served as a key marker of climate change, with Aono counting the days until blooms even in his final months. Osaka Metropolitan University and Aono's colleagues have committed to preserving and maintaining the dataset so researchers can continue tracking climate-driven changes in phenology.

Key Highlights

Prof Yasuyuki Aono of Osaka Metropolitan University compiled the 1,200-year dataset.
Dataset charts advancing cherry blossom bloom dates as indicator of climate change.
Osaka Metropolitan University will preserve and maintain the record after his death.
2 sources
theguardian.comAfter 1,200 years, cherry blossom record to live on despite Japanese scientist’s deathalojapan.comAfter 1,200 years, cherry blossom record to live on despite Japanese scientist’s death | Japan - Alo Japan All About Japan

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1,200-year cherry blossom record to continue after scientist's deathnature