The cherry trees of Ueno Park are inspirational in full bloom. Come early spring and Tokyoites head to the area early to snag spots beneath the pink blossoms, which inspire romance, revelry and perhaps more than a few visionary ideas.
More than a decade ago, Koichi Suzuki, the CEO of Internet Initiative Japan Inc., had one such epiphany with his friend, conductor Seiji Ozawa: To create a classical music event among the blooms.
Starting March 14, this year's month-long Spring Festival in Tokyo will consist of around 140 performances — including seven children's programs and 79 free concerts — in the Ueno district, an area blessed with many cherry trees and some of the country's best museums.