The after-work revelries are under way across Japan, with the nation noisily celebrating the annual arrival of the cherry blossoms with mobile karaoke machines and crates of beer. Experts warn, however, that the party could be drawing to a close. 随着一年一度樱花季的来临,整个日本都沉浸在樱花节的狂欢气氛里。移动卡拉OK、成箱的啤酒,全体日本民众都在闲暇时欢庆这一盛会。然而,专家警告称,这样的盛会今后可能不会再有。 Already threatened by rising temperatures and pollution in cities that have combined to reduce the number of flowers, the iconic cherry blossoms are also falling victim to time. 不断上升的气温和日益严重的污染已经使樱花数量减少,而作为日本的标志,樱花也熬不过时间。 Planted in huge numbers in the decades after air raids devastated large parts of Tokyo and other cities, cherry trees usually live about 60 years before they fall prey to disease or they become too large for their roots. 东京等城市的大部分地区在二战空袭中毁损严重。战后几十年里,日本大量种植樱花树,而樱花树的平均寿命约为60年。之后,樱花树就容易受到病虫害威胁,或是已经长得太大,以致树根无法负载。 A survey conducted in 2013 by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government showed that 44,000 cherry trees dot the city. But an increasing number are ailing and need to be cut down, meaning that entire groves of trees that add a dash of pink to the unrelenting grey of Japan's cities may disappear. |