April 19, 1999. Cherry Blossoms and Bullfinch in Ogunicho, Niigata Prefecture.

This year, we had an unexpectedly heavy snowfall. When the snowfall exceeds 1.5 meters, the bullfinches, little birds the size of sparrows, come down from the mountains into the villages and eat the buds of the cherry blossoms. The "somei-yoshino" receive especially severe damage. Therefore,the cherry trees this year have very few flowers on the tips of their branches and are cheerless.