> Initially, they didn’t have much luck. No other researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University, where Prof. Aono worked, would be taking over his record-keeping, Hiroko Nishino, a university spokeswoman, wrote in an email.
I’m surprised that there was lackluster response. For this kind of honor, you would think that there would be a flood of responses. I am attributing it to bad marketing.
Part of me also thinks: yes, but is there any money/compensation attached to this? Honor, sadly, doesn't pay for grad students or soft money researchers.
The unfamiliar usually is, especially when you aren’t there to experience the less obvious negative aspects of a given culture.
Outside of Japan, Japanese culture often gets put on a pedestal but it of course isn’t without its own issues that aren’t apparent to outsiders viewing from a distance.
They are just Japanese cherry blossom in Poland anyways.
Many trees of the same family are also stunning in bloom but the Japanese cherry blossom is celebrated not only for its beauty, but also for the fleeting nature of it.
I'm not sure how that translates as the tree is moved to a different climate where it doesn't belong.
Unlocked article (found on Reddit): https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/17/climate/japan-cherry-blos...
Data points: https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/date-of-the-peak-cherry-t...
> Initially, they didn’t have much luck. No other researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University, where Prof. Aono worked, would be taking over his record-keeping, Hiroko Nishino, a university spokeswoman, wrote in an email.
I’m surprised that there was lackluster response. For this kind of honor, you would think that there would be a flood of responses. I am attributing it to bad marketing.
Part of me also thinks: yes, but is there any money/compensation attached to this? Honor, sadly, doesn't pay for grad students or soft money researchers.
> Honor, sadly, doesn't pay for grad students
Are you kidding? Grad students are well known to receive trivial monetary pay. Most of their pay is in honor.
They still need to eat, and that trivial monetary pay component must come from somewhere . . .
Not usually how things work in Japanese culture
I'd like you to elaborate more on your answer
Are people not paid?
Japan's cherry blossom truly are wonderful, but I'm not gonna lie, I've seen as beautiful elsewhere, especially in central Europe, Poland especially.
Agreed. Classic case of the “Thing vs Thing, Japan” meme
https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/thing-japan
Hahaha! I'm from Japan, but I totally agree. Honestly, I often find other cultures even more charming in many ways.
The unfamiliar usually is, especially when you aren’t there to experience the less obvious negative aspects of a given culture.
Outside of Japan, Japanese culture often gets put on a pedestal but it of course isn’t without its own issues that aren’t apparent to outsiders viewing from a distance.
Except Place doesn’t have amazing vending machines and konbini like Place, Japan does :D
You are just reinforcing the meme perfectly, well done!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%BBabka_(convenience_store)
They are just Japanese cherry blossom in Poland anyways.
Many trees of the same family are also stunning in bloom but the Japanese cherry blossom is celebrated not only for its beauty, but also for the fleeting nature of it.
I'm not sure how that translates as the tree is moved to a different climate where it doesn't belong.
You're supposed to keep an apprentice, man!