Marking the Centennial Anniversary of the Gifting of Cherry Blossom Trees from Japan to the United States

The Tidal Basin along the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., known for its rows of cherry blossom trees provided by Japan. (Image provided by NCBF)　The year 2012 marked the centennial anniversary of the gifting of cherry blossom trees from Japan to the United States. In 1912, as a result of the efforts of Helen Herron Taft, the wife of then President William Howard Taft, and Yukio Ozaki, the then Mayor of Tokyo, as many as 3,000 cherry blossom trees were planted in Washington, D.C. Since then, the trees have bloomed every spring for 100 years as a symbol of the friendship and goodwill between Japan and the United States. A number of events are held each year during the cherry blossom season, with many people from both within and outside of the United States visiting the area to admire the cherry blossom along the Potomac River. In 2012, in celebrating this centennial, a big anniversary event was held to affirm and to further develop the friendly relationship between Japan and the United States with tremendous supports including those from private companies.

Tree planting ceremony by the US Military Japan Alumni Association in Washington, D.C.　Various events were held across the United States as part of this anniversary event. In Washington, D.C. the National Cherry Blossom Festival was held over five weeks from the end of March, with a total of 1.5 million visitors making their way to this grand event. The event included performances by artists representing Japan. MISIA and Hideki Togi performed at the opening ceremony while AKB48 performed on stage.
　Furthermore, with the attendance of First Lady Michelle Obama, the honorary chair of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, a tree planting ceremony commemorating the centenary was held at the end of March. Similar ceremonies also took place in 36 cities across the United States at around the same time.
　The Japan-U.S. Cherry Blossom Festival was also held in Tokyo. Speeches were given by Koichiro Gemba, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Kurt Tong, Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, and music was performed by the JASDF Central Band and the USAF Band of Pacific-Asia.
　The year 2012 truly marked a historical centennial milestone for Japan and the United States’ friendly relations. In Washington, D.C., the Japanese Embassy, National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. and other related organizations are working together for the spring cherry blossom festival every year toward the next 100 years of friendship, renewing appreciation for predecessors who achieved sending these cherry blossom trees to the United States 100 years ago.
　Mutual understanding between Japanese and U.S. citizens nurtured through cultural and people-to-people exchange serves as the foundation for the Japan-U.S. Alliance. It is a very important part of Japan’s foreign policy that we commit ourselves to this type of events which provide an opportunity for both citizens to reaffirm the importance of the Japan-U.S. relations, reflecting on their bilateral history of cultural exchange, and give thought to the future of the Japan-U.S. Alliance.