STORY of CHERRY BLOSSOM TREES IN USA
A Tale of Two Cities and Three Thousand Cherry Trees Washington DC's famous cherry trees line the tidal basin. -Susan Laszewski Embassy of Japan How many people does it take to get some cherry trees planted? A lot, as it turns out. Everyone knows that the famous Washington, DC cherry trees were a gift from the city of Tokyo, but few are familiar with the details. On March 25th, the JICC was pleased to welcome Ambassador John R. Malott, President and CEO of the Japan-America Society of Washington DC, to share those details in his lecture entitled "Mrs. Taft Plants a Tree: How the Cherry Blossoms Came to Washington." The event proved to be a popular one. The auditorium was bursting at the seams with history buffs, flower lovers, those with an interest in Japan, and many who just love a good story. For while he may be an expert in Japan and Asian affairs, having held such positions during his 31 years with the Foreign Service as US Consul General in Osaka and US Ambassador ...