During Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's official visit to the White House, a significant gesture of friendship between Japan and the United States was announced. Japan will donate 250 new cherry trees to the United States to replace those that will be uprooted during the repair work on the boundary wall around Washington's Tidal Basin, scheduled for this summer.
This symbolic gesture was formulated to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026, underlining the importance of the friendship and alliance between the two countries.
The Tidal Basin is home to one of the highest concentrations of cherry blossom trees, which attract more than a million visitors to Washington each spring. These trees have become an icon of the US capital and a symbol of friendship between Japan and the US after Japan donated 3,000 cherry trees in 1912. The planting ceremony of the first two trees, performed by first lady Helen Herron Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, marked the beginning of this long and significant tradition.
During Kishida's visit to the White House, President Joe Biden emphasised the importance of this gesture, likening the friendship between the US and Japan to the timeless and ever-growing cherry trees themselves. The event also underlines the geopolitical alliance between Biden and Kishida, who discussed security issues in the Pacific during the State Dinner.
This gift of the new cherry trees underlines the two nations' desire to strengthen and celebrate their enduring bond. Japan's decision to donate the trees at a time when some existing trees must be removed for construction work is a gesture of generosity and friendship that will continue to inspire and flourish over time, reflecting the beauty and depth of the relationship between the two countries.
Read the full article: WAFB9
Image: The Peninsula Qatar
28 Jan 2025
Four cherry varieties (Ferrovia, Regina, Kordia, and Skeena) grafted onto two rootstocks (Gisela 6 and MaxMa 14) were the subject of a study conducted at the Fruit Growing Institute in Plovdiv (Bulgaria).
26 Jun 2024
The grower responsible for this cherry is Yoshimi Kanehira, a 76-year-old farmer from the city of Tendo. This cherry, of category 5L, has a diameter between 34 and 37 millimeters and was presented in a refined box made of Paulownia wood, a material used for luxury finishes.
04 Nov 2025
Chile faces increasing water scarcity, threatening its world-class fruit industry. Efficient irrigation and optimized crop nutrition are key to maintaining yield and quality in changing climate conditions. Explore practical strategies to face this challenge.
04 Nov 2025
A recent study in France shows how mild winters disrupt dormancy in the Regina sweet cherry tree, leading to delayed blooming, malformed flowers, and lower productivity. These findings highlight the urgent need to adapt fruit farming to ongoing climate change in temperate regions
