National Cherry Blossom Festival
national cherry blossom festival spring celebration washington dc commemorating march gift japanese cherry tree mayor yukio ozaki tokyo city city washington dc ozaki gave tree enhance growing friendship united state japan also celebrate continued close relationship two nation large colorful helium balloon float marching band across country music showmanship part festival parade event effort bring cherry blossom tree washington dc preceded official planting several decade eliza ruhamah scidmore returned first trip japan approached u army superintendent office public building ground idea planting cherry tree along reclaimed waterfront potomac river scidmore would go become first female board member national geographic society rebuffed though would continue proposing idea every superintendent next year several cherry tree brought region individual period including one location cherry blossom viewing tea party hosted scidmore northwest dc among guest prominent botanist david fairchild fiancée marian daughter inventor alexander graham bell david fairchild imported cherry tree yokohama nursery company japan planted property chevy chase maryland fairchilds pleased result planting began promoting japanese flowering cherry tree ideal tree plant around avenue washington area september help fairchilds friend chevy chase land company ordered oriental cherry tree chevy chase area fairchild donated cherry sapling every dc school plant school ground observance arbor day arbor day speech eliza scidmore attended fairchild proposed speedway nonexisting route around dc tidal basin turned field cherry scidmore decided raise money buy cherry tree donate district matter largely form april wrote letter first lady helen herron taft wife newly elected president taft informing plan two day later first lady responded thank much suggestion cherry tree taken matter promised tree thought perhaps would best make avenue extending turn road part still rough planting course could reflect water effect would lovely long avenue let know think chance jōkichi takamine japanese chemist discovered adrenaline washington mr kokichi midzuno japanese consul new york city april informed plan plant japanese cherry tree along speedway ohio avenue takamine asked mr taft would accept additional tree midzuno suggested tree given name tokyo takamine midzuno subsequently met first lady accepted offer tree april spencer cosby superintendent office public building ground purchased ninety cherry tree prunus serrulata planted along potomac river lincoln memorial south toward east potomac park subsequently discovered tree cultivar shirofugen rather ordered fugenzo tree largely disappeared st century august embassy japan washington dc informed u department state city tokyo intended donate cherry tree united state planted along potomac tree arrived washington dc january however inspection team department agriculture led flora wambaugh patterson found tree infested insect nematode concluding tree destroyed protect local grower president taft gave order burn tree january secretary state philander c knox wrote letter expressing regret involved japanese ambassador takamine responded news another donation tree lineage taken famous group tree along arakawa river tokyo grafted onto stock itami hyogo prefecture february cherry tree twelve cultivar shipped board awa maru arrived dc via rail car seattle march much behindthescenes diplomatic event linked japanese giving cherry blossom tree washington dc relatively unknown according march washington post article scene cherry blossom festival annual rite spring washington michael e ruane washington post staff writer art peace illustrated biography prince iyesato tokugawa present much prior history behindthescenes political detail surrounding japanese goodwill gesture point strongly prince tokugawas pivotal role initial japanese gifting evolution national cherry blossom festival instead taking credit prince tokugawa humbly wished gift seen coming directly japan capital city tokyo u capital city washington dc without getting recognition international goodwill gesture prince iyesato tokugawa held great influence based heir last shogun japan tokugawa yoshinobu dynasty ruled year also based prince tokugawa holding powerful position president japan upper house congress house peer thirty year new york daily tribune announced upcoming arrival prince tokugawa new york city visited washington dc article mentioned scheduled coincide visit prince tokugawa new york city recent arrival delegation sixty japanese prince tokugawa japanese delegation spent time together washington dc prior visiting new york city washington dc prince tokugawa met dined president william howard taft white house honoring visit understand comradery already established prince tokugawa president taft one need recognize serving president theodore roosevelt secretary war william howard taft traveled around world including voyage japan hosted met prince tokugawa taft groomed future role president washington dc visit yearold prince tokugawa twice visited u senate see firsthand american legislative process tokugawa wished familiarize similarity difference various democracy united state britain nation japan one japanese delegate part prince tokugawas delegation shown daily tribune newspaper article photo illustration mayor tokyo yukio ozaki japanese official remembered linked japanese gift cherry blossom tree news article also stated part prince tokugawas visit new york city prince tokugawa expressed desire see immense development occurred united state since last visit prince tokugawa five japanese companion toured city included visit american stock exchange wall street also marveled construction holland tunnel prince tokugawa also invited small private dinner honor visit new york city given kokichi midzuno consul general japan midzuno japanese official first contacted japan central government asking advice best proceed japanese gift cherry tree washington dc eighteen guest dinner several prominent leader new york city japaneseamerican community rather wishing receive recognition facilitating japanese gifting cherry tree prince iyesato tokugawa preferred gift seen token goodwill coming directly japan capital city tokyo united state capital city washington dc visit u tokugawa introduced mayor tokyo many influential japanese american u official promote japanese gift coming decade would commemorated grow one washington dc largest celebration long career prince tokugawa creatively promoted friendship alliance six u president world leader extensive travel abroad many way diplomatic face japan came international relation first year twentieth century year often politically socially turbulent requiring prince tokugawa take leading role encouraging respectful international diplomacy military arm limitation washington naval arm conference strongly promoted appreciation democracy took leading stance racism introducing abraham lincoln principle equality japan public school university lincoln essay writing contest winning student given bronze commemorative coin face president lincoln one prince tokugawas closest influential japanese ally baron shibusawa eiichi aka baron eiichi shibusawa combination illustration right offer new window prince tokugawa baron shibusawa ally significant influence linked initial cherry blossom tree giving evolution annual national cherry blossom festival illustration rare photo discovered research illustrated biography art peace biography highlight alliance prince tokugawa baron shibusawa strove promote international goodwill photo illustration section larger photograph present baron shibusawa eiichi standing two prominent japanese colleague shibusawa sitting end huge banquet table near former president theodore roosevelt sake shooting capturing group photo sixty attendee photographer requested shibusawa come side table closer former president william howard taft far right photo seated next gentleman whose image reveals one half face standing shibusawas right side japaneseamerican jōkichi takamine one two individual hosted diplomatic banquet event takamine highly successful respected chemist businessman helped found international pharmaceutical company continues day takamine individual first offered pay cherry blossom tree given japan washington dc photo standing shibusawas left side count chinda sutemi japanese ambassador united state takamine ambassador sutemi closely linked giving cherry blossom tree washington dc ceremony march first lady helen herron taft viscountess chinda wife japanese ambassador planted first two tree north bank tidal basin west potomac park end ceremony first lady presented viscountess chinda bouquet american beauty rose two tree still stand terminus th street southwest marked large plaque united state government responded gift flowering dogwood tree people japan build growing goodwill japan u based giving cherry blossom tree one prince iyesato tokugawas close friend political ally baron eiichi shibusawa visited u photo illustration presented right present shibusawa attending large banquet new york city held honor host banquet jōkichi takamine successful japaneseamerican community activist businessman first offered purchase cherry blossom tree gift diplomatically come nation japan former president william howard taft also attendance event showing respect baron shibusawa president taft wife officially received gift cherry blossom tree representative japan three year earlier tree someiyoshino variety comprised gift planted around tidal basin tree cultivar remaining yoshinos planted east potomac park group american school child reenacted initial planting event recognized first dc cherry blossom festival district columbia commissioner sponsored threeday celebration flowering cherry tree first cherry blossom festival held late joint sponsorship numerous civic group officially became national annual event cherry tree point become established part nation capital plan cut tree clear ground jefferson memorial prompted group woman chain together site protest compromise reached tree would planted along south side basin frame memorial cherry blossom pageant begun garden club america commemorated th anniversary japanese gift cherry blossom tree u giving flowering tree plant japan better receive u goodwill gift prince tokugawa played pivotal role behindthescenes introduced mayor tokyo ozaki u leader washington dc part giving cherry blossom tree revealing prince tokugawa accompanied current mayor tokyo representative japan receiving gift garden club america ceremony held kiyozumi park tokyo december four tree cut suspected retaliation attack pearl harbor empire japan four day earlier though never confirmed hope dissuading people attack upon tree war referred oriental flowering cherry tree war duration suspended world war ii festival resumed support washington dc board trade dc commissioner cherry blossom princess u cherry blossom queen program started national conference state society princess selected state federal territory queen chosen reign festival japan requested help restoring cherry tree grove adachi tokyo along arakawa river parent stock dc tree diminished war response national park service sent budwood back tokyo governor tokyo gifted japanese lantern yearold granite lantern city washington commemorate signing japanus treaty amity friendship commodore matthew c perry lantern originally carved one two memorializing tokugawa iemitsu brought west potomac park ueno park taitō tokyo lantern remains year lighting lantern embassy japan appointed cherry blossom princess opened festival three year later president pearl company started mikimoto kōkichi donated mikimoto pearl crown containing lb kg gold pearl crown used coronation festival queen grand ball next year mayor yokohama gave stone pagoda city symbolize spirit friendship united state america manifested treaty peace amity commerce signed yokohama march japanese gave yoshino tree accepted first lady lady bird johnson tree grown united state many planted ground washington monument occasion first lady ryuji takeuchi wife japanese ambassador reenacted planting japanese horticulturalists took cutting yoshino tree washington dc replace cherry tree destroyed flood japan cherry tree planted using u private fund donated national park service restore tree number time original gift festival expanded two week accommodate many activity happen tree blooming two year later potomac arakawa became sister river cutting taken documented tree used replacement planting thus preserve genetic heritage grove fifty tree usuzumi variety motosu gifu planted west potomac park according legend tree first planted emperor keitai th century designated national treasure japan tree propagated surviving tree planted ensure genetic heritage original donation maintained national cherry blossom festival coordinated national cherry blossom festival inc c organization consisting representative business civic governmental organization people visit washington year admire blossoming cherry tree herald beginning spring nation capital threeweek festival begin around middle march family day national building museum official opening ceremony warner theatre pink tie party also held attendee invited finest pink attire revel together toast spring season array activity cultural event take place following day blossom kite festival formerly smithsonian kite festival usually take place festival first second weekend every day sushisake celebration class cherry blossom bike tour tidal basin event include art exhibit photography sculpture animation cultural performance rakugo kimono fashion show dance singing martial art merchantsponsored event rugby union tournament next saturday threestage festival take place southwest waterfront festival end firework show begin nearby washington channel next morning sunday credit union cherry blossom ten mile run begin ground washington monument later sunday dignitary gather tidal basin participate ceremonial lighting yearold japanese stone lantern morning festival last saturday national cherry blossom festival parade travel along constitution avenue th th street nw year sakura matsurijapanese street festival japanese さくらまつり largest japanese cultural festival united state took place throughout day along th street pennsylvania avenue nw near route parade however street festival take place street se new jersey avenue se near department transportation exit navy yardballpark metro station distant capitol riverfront area street festival relocation became necessary trump organization operates trump international hotel old post office pavilion th street pennsylvania avenue nw negotiated deal government district columbia requires foot mwide lane pennsylvania avenue remain open hotel customer valet parking service except major event presidential inaugural parade thus leaving insufficient space avenue festival activity national cherry blossom festival introduced alternative event lineup debut cherry blast mix art dance performance live music fashion took place anacostia warehouse cherry blast ii—the creation artist philippa p hughes pink line project—moved storage warehouse adam morgan still featured eclectic group local artist musician cherry blast took place carnegie library mount vernon square last saturday evening festival event organizer cancelled many event since concern related ongoing coronavirus pandemic several activity since added engage community springtime celebration petal porch art bloom paw petal initial gift variety tree yoshino cherry total kwanzan cherry total dominate first cultivar presented yoshino kwanzan ichiyo takinioi shirayuki fugenzo ariake jonioi fukurokuju surugadainioi gyoiko mikurumagaeshi exception yoshino cultivar belong satozakura group complex interspecific hybrid derived oshima cherry many cultivar yoshino kwanzan currently available viewing government didnt obtained original tree reached maximum age yoshino produce single white blossom create effect white cloud around tidal basin north onto ground washington monument intermingled yoshino small number akebono cherry tree bloom time yoshino produce single palepink blossom kwanzan grows primarily east potomac park come bloom two week yoshino produce cluster clear pink double blossom east potomac park also fugenzo produce rosy pink double blossom shirofugen produce white double blossom age pink interspersed among tree weeping cherry produce variety single double blossom color ranging dark pink white week yoshino cultivar specie found autumn cherry semidouble pink sargent cherry single deep pink usuzumi whitegrey takesimensis good wet area branch brook park largest collection cherry blossom tree united state hanami cherry blossom viewing japanese international cherry blossom festival macon georgia canadian tulip festival festival commemorating similar gift dutch royal family exile world war ii ann mcclellan cherry blossom festival sakura celebration bunker hill publishing hahn fritz coronavirus close smithsonian museum cancel national cherry blossom festival event going guide washington post archived original march retrieved march official website washington dc cherry blossom watch cherry blossom festival national park service guide national cherry blossom festival record special collection research center estelle melvin gelman library george washington university video cherry blossom festival washington dc cherry blossom blossom kite festival sakura matsurijapanese street festival view japanese flowering cherry tree washington dc roland jefferson online biodiversity heritage library cherry blossom cam earthcam history national cherry blossom festival art peace illustrated biography prince tokugawa iesato