25 March

The annual National Cherry Blossom Festival has kicked off in Washington to celebrate the gift of trees from Japan to the US more than 100 years ago.

The trees are not yet in bloom in the US capital, but an opening ceremony was held on Saturday with performances by Japanese and American artists. Japanese Ambassador to the United States Shinsuke Sugiyama talked of the strong ties between the two countries.

He said that in 1912 then-First Lady Helen Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of then-Japanese Ambassador Sutemi Chinda, planted two cherry trees that had been given by the city of Tokyo beside the Potomac River. Sugiyama said that led to the long friendship between the two countries.

Japanese violinist Ikuko Kawai performed together with musicians playing Japanese traditional instruments. A performance based on the popular Japanese anime series "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon" got a big hand from children and adults.

Various cultural events and parades are scheduled during the festival. The trees are expected to be in full bloom in early April.

NHK