The Transformation of the Kanda River Sakura

A person walks past white cherry blossom trees and a metal fence in front of a modern residential building.

As some of you might know, I live in Suginami Ward’s Takaido-Higashi. I’m lucky because in spring, many great cherry blossom spots are near my house. Shinjuku Gyoen isn’t far and neither is Inokashira Park. But luckily two more are within easy walking distance. One is Zenpukuji Park and the other is the Kanda River, which I went to for this shoot. This is the most local of local photography shoots in the great metropolis of Tokyo. When you go to this place, you might forget you are in the concrete jungle for a while.

Kanda River Cherry Blossoms frame a narrow canal with concrete walls and white fences under a clear, bright blue sky. — *Branches over the water are missing*

The disappearing sakura tunnel at Tsukuda Bridge

Actually, it used to be much better. At one point in time, up until a few years ago, the trees reached out to each other over the river, almost forming a tunnel over the water. It was an incredible sight. Tsukuda Bridge (佃橋), next to Takaido Station, was the perfect place to see this spring spectacle. However, there has been a problem.

A white chimney rises behind an elevated Keio-Inokashira Line train, framed by cherry blossoms and a jogger under blue sky. — *Many lopped branches at the top of the tree on the far side*

The trees were lopped a few years ago. The trees that once reached across the river, are missing branches. Some have been reduced to stumps high up on the trunks. That once beautiful canopy is no more. Witches’ broom got hold of it.

A close-up of delicate white cherry blossoms clustered on dark branches against a soft, blurred background.

What is witches’ broom disease (Taphrina wiesneri)?

As the trees along the river are of the Somei Yoshino type and over 60 years of age, they are susceptible to witches’ broom disease (てんぐ巣病), which is triggered by several things including a fungus, Taphrina wiesneri which is the cause of this problem. What happens to trees infected with it?

A distorted clump of branches grows close together that look like a witches’ broom.
If left untreated, new branches bloom and drop their leaves earlier than other branches of the tree.
White spores are often visible underneath any foliage produced on the branches infected by fungal witches’ broom.
Cherry leaf curl (another fungal problem) may also develop on infected branches.
Eventually, the growth of witches’ brooms will disrupt the flow of sap and the host branch will die back.

A person in a mask walks a small white dog on a stone path under a canopy of white cherry blossoms.

Why we must protect Japan’s iconic trees

Like many arboricultural diseases, witches’ broom can spread, so keeping on top of it is vital. Arborists’ (tree doctors) tools if not cleaned can pass it on. As cherry blossoms are a symbol of Japan, this is a problem that needs to be kept under control.

Pink cherry blossoms drape over a narrow canal with a white fence and bridge under a warm, hazy sky.

So, even touching a cherry tree is something to be avoided. If you damage it, that could cause ugly witches brooms (of the non-fungal) type to appear and scar the tree. That’s the last thing we want.

White cherry blossoms line a concrete canal reflecting hazy sunlight in a quiet residential neighborhood.

The future of the Kanda River cherry blossoms

Diseased branches do not recover once they are infected. They have it forever. So the beautiful view we once had in Takaido, is now gone forever. Further lopping in the future will probably happen as there is no cure for this disease.

People cross a bridge over a canal, framed by blooming white cherry blossoms and red foliage.

The Japan Times reported in 2006 that a study carried out by the Flower Association of Japan found 18 prefectures had the disease. That’s a high number, and I wonder if witches’ broom has spread further. Just to repeat, there is no cure, but the beloved cherry blossoms must be treated with utmost care.

A woman and a boy on a bicycle pass a large, blooming cherry blossom tree in a residential area under a cloudy sky.

Since the Somei Yoshino are more susceptible to witches’ broom. Tomohiro Ito wrote in his (Japanese language) article that some places have replaced those trees with others of different types. It’s something to think about. How Suginami Ward will deal with this remains to be seen. I just hope this problem doesn’t spread to other areas.

Kanda River Cherry Blossoms bloom along a narrow urban canal as people stroll on paths lined with white fences.

Even though the trees were missing some branches and the flowers weren’t quite at their peak, the Kanda River was a great place for a walk. Blue skies provided a great start to the photo session, but thick mushy clouds soon rolled in. That was a pity.