City famed for cherry blossom deploys camera drone

AKITA – A northeastern city renowned for its cherry blossom is teaming up with a software developer to film the scene using drones, in a bid to boost tourism and assist in the upkeep of the trees. Senboku in Akita Prefecture, which boasts the cherry trees in its Kakunodate district, is one of the several areas nationwide designated as special zones where the use of drones for public purposes is allowed. This is intended to encourage economic revitalization. Infoteria Corp. will provide the technology and donate 1 million toward the care of the trees. Technicians flew a drone along a river bank in the city Wednesday, shooting vistas of early blossom.