WASHINGTON, D.C. – Each spring, the cherry blossoms blooming on the 3,000 cherry trees gifted by Japan to the United States over one hundred years ago signal the arrival of spring in the capital. Recently, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the donation of 250 additional cherry trees to Washington, with many of them earmarked for planting at the Tidal Basin near the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. The gesture is in commemoration of the United States’ upcoming 250th anniversary in two years.
During a visit to the White House, President Biden praised the enduring relationship between the U.S. and Japan, stating that the cherry trees symbolize timelessness, inspiration, and vitality. The donation comes on the heels of the National Park Service’s decision to remove 300 trees, including 158 cherry trees, near the Tidal Basin and West Potomac Park as part of a project to repair deteriorating sea walls. Among the trees being removed is one affectionately known as “Stumpy” due to its advanced decay.
The restoration of the sea walls will involve fencing and construction equipment placed around some of the cherry trees for the next three years, as part of broader rehabilitation efforts on the National Mall leading up to the country’s 250th anniversary celebration. In response to the planned tree removals, Prime Minister Kishida decided to present the 250 new cherry trees as replacements, with three already planted on the White House lawn last year.
The Kishidas recently visited the White House and attended a state dinner, marking the first such event for a Japanese prime minister in nearly a decade. Discussions between Prime Minister Kishida and President Biden are expected to include topics of future military and defense coordination. Kishida highlighted the long lifespan of some of the D.C. cherry trees, which have surpassed the typical 60-year lifespan for such trees. He credited the dedicated individuals known as “cherry tree guardians” for their role in ensuring the trees’ continued thriving.
As Kishida emphasized the significance of cherishing and protecting the cherry trees, he drew parallels to the enduring strength of the Japan-U.S. relationship, nurtured by the deep mutual admiration and respect between the people of both nations. The gift of new cherry trees serves as a symbol of this enduring bond and the shared commitment to preserving and fostering the friendship between Japan and the United States.