The National Cherry Blossom Festival

Every year around springtime, The National Cherry Blossom Festival holds a ceremony to celebrate the ties between American and Japanese Culture. Nearly a century ago (1912), Helen Herron Taft, first lady to former President William Howard Taft, and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, collaboratively planted the first two cherry trees on the north bank of the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park. A gift from Tokyo Major, Yukio Ozaki, the trees were given in hopes of building a stronger, friendlier relationship between the two countries. Three years later, the United States responded eloquently with a gift of flowering dogwood trees.

Background

19th century imperialism called for great tensions amongst some of the great powers of the world, including Japan, Russia, United States, and Germany. Prior, Japan promoted a policy of strict isolation, which lasted over 200 years. This however, failed to last as Commodore Matthew Perry of the U.S. along with other subsequent naval leaders, urged Japan to reconsider and open trade relations with the west. Consequently, the Treaty of Peace and Amity was signed (March 31, 1854) leaving room for political unrest, as most Japanese intellectuals believed it to be forced through Perry’s somewhat aggressive ways, or what can be commonly known as gunboat diplomacy.

Troubled by the unwanted influence of American culture, Japan held a sense of resentment; in order to sustain positive affiliation, the Cherry Tree/Flowering Dogwood tree effort proved supportive until it was later hindered by World War II. However, The Cherry Blossom festival later resumed (1947), reminding the two nations of a continuing effort of union without hostility. In 1965, 3,800 trees were acknowledged by First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, ensuring an optimistic outlook for the two nations. With the flooding and destruction of Yoshino Cherry Trees in Japan (1981), horticulturalists replaced them with cuttings from the same trees presented in Washington, D.C., further demonstrating the trees as an agent of friendship.

This 2010 National Blossom Festival will be held between March 27th and April 11th to commemorate 98 years of commitment to an ever growing amity between Japan and the U.S.

Have you ever picked a cherry blossom?

Springtime, perfect for picnics, wearing shorts, and admiring the Cherry Blossom in DC. The National Cherry Blossom Festival is an two-week(per annum) event that celebrates springtime in Washington, DC as well as the 1912 gift of the cherry blossom trees and the enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization that coordinates, produces, and supports creative and diverse activities promoting traditional and contemporary arts and culture, natural beauty and the environment, and community spirit and youth education. It's also begins peak season for an influx of tourists to Washington, also brought in by the thousands of historical landmarks, museums, and other buildings, The National Museum of Crime & Punishment, located in Washington, D.C. is one of those such buildings, with excellent depictions of historically famous crime scenes along detailed information concerning past wars, forensics, organized crime, and more.