Every spring people across Japan are enraptured as the cherry trees explode into bloom, clothing the country in pink. The blossoms last for only a few short weeks, but in that time the fleeting flowers make for good business.
The blossoms are a gift to corporate marketers and a boon for tourism. As spring approaches, sakura-themed goods fill stores as companies use the season to introduce new products.
While the impact isn't enough to show up in top-tier statistics, pockets of the economy perk up and springtime spending gets a boost. Household purchases of alcohol jump about 10 percent in March from February, as blossom-viewing parties get underway. Foreign tourists also begin flocking back into the country after a winter lull.
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