Japan is giving the United States 250 new cherry trees to help replace the hundreds that are being ripped out this summer as construction crews work to repair the crumbling seawall around the capital’s Tidal Basin.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made the announcement as President Joe Biden welcomed him to the White House on Wednesday for an official visit and state dinner. Biden said the gift is meant to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. in 2026, adding, “Like our friendship, these trees are timeless, inspiring and thriving.”
In 1912, first lady Helen Herron Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador to the United States, planted two Yoshino cherry trees on the northern bank of the Potomac River’s Tidal Basin. They were part of the 3,000 such trees Japan gave the U.S. in a symbol of the two countries’ friendship.
Love how AP journalists say “Washington” instead of “Washington D.C.”, as if the state of Washington doesn’t exist.
Even the AP Stylebook recommends just using “Washington” to describe the Capitol because of its “Global recognition”, but as one of the 7.8 million Washingtonians who don’t live in D.C. on the other side of the country, I absolutely find this shit confusing.
Especially since Seattle’s cherry blossom festival starts today, so it would be the right timing for someone to gift us cherry trees if they were going to.
FYI since you’re into this kind of thing, ‘the Capitol’ refers to the US Capitol building.
‘The Capital’ means DC, the capital city in this case.
Hope you get some fresh Japanese Sakura. They are amazing.