One would think Eishin Murakata has a pleasant, relaxing job. Every spring, he strolls each day to the same cherry tree in central Tokyo and gazes up at its boughs. When he spots a full bud on the verge of blossoming, he carefully snaps a photograph.
But Murakata has been on edge recently. As an employee of the Meteorological Agency, his annual quest is to determine the official opening date of Tokyo's hallowed, yet fleeting, cherry blossom season -- and this year, the competition from rival weather agencies has been tight.
"I have to look very carefully so I won't miss anything," he said one afternoon as he examined the agency's main benchmark tree at a Tokyo shrine. "Our mission is so important I don't have time to enjoy the flowers when we spot them."