HACHINOHE, Aomori Prefecture--A single high-end variety of cherry fetched 40,000 yen ($296) during this year’s first auction here of the fruit, drawing gasps among bidders and spectators.

4. There are thought to be around 1 million cherry trees in Japan. The single cultivar known as 'Somei Yoshino' represents 80% of all of Japan's cherry trees 5. The oldest cherry tree is thought ...