#110YearsinBloom: Celebrating the Gift of Cherry Blossoms
This is a guest blog post from Embassy of Japan Spokesperson Masashi Mizobuchi
Springtime has always been one of my favorite seasons. When arriving in the United States for my first diplomatic tour almost 30 years ago, I was excited to see that Washington, D.C., much like Tokyo, comes alive with the sights and smells of cherry blossom trees. In both capital cities, these trees have become iconic parts of the landscape, but I think some people still don’t know about the incredible story of how the cherry blossom became a powerful symbol of friendship and reconciliation between Japan and the United States!
A History of Friendship
On March 27, 1912, First Lady Helen Taft and the Viscountess Chinda, the wife of the Japanese Ambassador at the time, met on the northern bank of the Tidal Basin to plant the first two Yoshino cherry trees, part of a larger gift of more than 3,000 trees from the Mayor of Tokyo to Washington, D.C.
To the people who gathered 110 years ago, the meaning behind this gift was clear. The cherry blossom has always been an important motif in Japan, appearing in classical art, poetry, and landscapes as a symbol of renewal and immediacy. That symbolism matched the moment in 1912, when the relationship between our two countries was only 58 years old, and both Japan and the U.S. were urgently working to build solid ties across the Pacific Ocean that would become foundations for their own aspirations.
As hoped, the cherry blossom trees became a spark for that fast-blossoming relationship. The gift was reciprocated in 1915 with a shipment of dogwood trees to Japan, and additional moments of tree diplomacy soon took root between our countries.
In Washington, D.C., the cherry blossom trees became a key part of the city’s monumental core, creating an aesthetic counterpart to the blossom-lined riverbanks of Tokyo. This fresh look delighted visitors from around the world and became the anchor of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
A Living Symbol of Friendship and Resilience
The power of the cherry blossoms as a symbol was even strong enough to endure the war that bitterly divided Japan and the United States. As leaders and diplomats looked for ways to rebuild the Japan-U.S. relationship, the cherry blossom trees found a new importance, and springtime once again became an opportunity to come together in a spirit of reconciliation, with the falling blossoms reminding everyone how urgent the pursuit of peace must be.
More than a century later, some of those original trees are still growing and have become a living symbol of friendship and resilience. We appreciate the National Park Service for the time and effort they have invested into taking care of the cherry blossom trees and our American friends who enjoy the beautiful blossoms in many of the same ways as we do in Japan. As a demonstration of the strength of our friendship, in recent years cherry blossom tree plantings have been attended by First Ladies of the United States, including Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama, and Laura Bush participated in an NCBF event as well. First Lady Jill Biden also made video remarks at this year’s NCBF Opening Ceremony.
The cherry blossoms trees are also an important symbol for me personally and professionally. This is my fifth diplomatic mission to the United States, and each time I have tried to make my way to Washington, D.C. On March 27, 2022, exactly 110 years after the first tree planting, I once again found myself standing at the Tidal Basin only a short distance away from the original trees. As I watched the countless number of people around me delight in the beautiful blossoms, I couldn’t help but feel amazed by the strong connections that these little flowers have created. The friendship between Japan and the U.S. is stronger than ever, and our Alliance is the cornerstone of peace and prosperity. It is my hope as a diplomat and a resident of Hiroshima that everyone in the world is able to enjoy their right to live in peace.
For 110 years these trees have stood through an incredible number of trials, and this year we’re excited to be marking that history with a return to in-person festivities!
