First Sakura Appears

Just wanted to let you know that a few days ago I spotted the first sakura tree blooming on campus.

   It is a white flower.

 The difference between sakura blossoms and ume blossoms is that ume petals are round and sakura ones have a crease in them (like the top of a heart).  Upon closer inspection, this is definitely sakura:

 A cat came to sit under the tree.  The tree was smelling quite nicely.  Cats look the same in Japan :P.

 There are a few sakura trees on campus I hear so this is just the first viewing - more to come!