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The Japanese government is giving the United States 250 cherry blossom trees to celebrate the country’s semiquincentennial this year, with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arriving in Washington, D.C. this week to deliver them and meet with President Donald Trump. Takaichi first announced the gift during a meeting with Trump at the Akasaka Palace in Tokyo this past fall, telling him, “To have a magnificent celebration, we will extend a gift of 250 cherry trees to Washington, D.C.”
According to DC 250, “The new cherry blossom trees will be planted in phases around the Tidal Basin and other prominent areas in the District, including the U.S. National Arboretum and Anacostia Park. Visitors can expect even more spectacular displays of blossoms in the coming years as the trees mature.” In 1912, the mayor of Tokyo gave 3,000 cherry blossom trees to the city of DC, and they were planted around the Tidal Basin. Now, the cherry blossoms have become a major tourist attraction, especially during peak bloom season.
The Washington Postreported that today’s visit will likely be fraught, as Trump is looking for military aid against Iran. “Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s first official visit to Washington this week was supposed to be a triumphant celebration of the friendship, with a gift of 250 Japanese cherry trees to mark America’s big birthday. Instead, she will be greeted by a wartime president who’s looking for a different kind of gift from her country: Military assistance in the Middle East,” Michelle Ye Hee Lee and Chie Tanaka write. “Iran is expected to be a dominant topic when the two leaders meet on Thursday, and Takaichi is walking a tightrope. Her pacifist nation wants to avoid taking sides in the war. It also doesn’t want to annoy President Donald Trump, the unpredictable leader of Japan’s only security ally.”
Emily Burack (she/her) is the Deputy Digital Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, celebrities, the royals, and a wide range of other topics. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms.