Tokyo crowds gather to witness cherry blossoms at full bloom

TOKYO, Japan: Over the last weekend, crowds gathered to witness cherry blossoms, known as "sakura" in Japanese, in Tokyo, where cold weather has delayed their bloom.

Cherry blossoms are the nation's favourite flower, and people often have sakura viewing parties beneath the falling petals. These parties usually involve picnics and drinking sake.

Canadian tourist Vidyuth Lakshman, 36, said she had seen cher