Japan to Gift US 250 New Cherry Trees as ‘Symbol of Friendship’ Amid Strengthened Alliance

Cherry Blossom trees are in full bloom at the Tidal Basin in Washington, on April 3, 2019. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times

Japan is giving the United States 250 cherry trees, meant to reflect the strong geopolitical alliance and friendship between the two nations, President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced on Wednesday.

The new trees will replace the existing ones that will be torn down during construction work around the Tidal Basin in Washington in the coming months, the two leaders said during a joint press conference at the White House.

Tidal Basin has become a popular spot due to the nearly 3,000 brightly colored cherry blossoms donated by Japan in 1912 as a symbol of “peace and goodwill” between the two nations, according to the public relations office of the Japanese government.

Work is set to begin this summer to repair the crumbling seawall around the 107-acre manmade reservoir bordering the Jefferson Memorial, and will require some of the older trees to be torn down, President Biden said.

According to officials, around 300 trees, of which roughly 160 are cherry trees, are set to be removed during construction work.

Prime Minister Kishida called the cherry trees along the Potomac River “a symbol of the friendship” between Japan and the United States. “These Japanese-born cherry trees have been sounding the arrival of spring to the city every year for over 110 years. Just as the local residents have cherished and protected these cherry trees, the Japan-U.S. relationship has been supported and nurtured by the many people who love each other’s country,” he said.

“The friendship between Japan and the United States will continue to grow and bloom around the world, thriving on friendship, respect, and trust of the people of both countries,” he continued. “I am confident that the cherry-blossom-like bond of the Japan-U.S. alliance will continue to grow even thicker and stronger here, in the Indo-Pacific, and in all corners of the world.”

New Military Cooperation Plans

Elsewhere, President Biden said the gift of 250 new cherry trees is meant to honor America’s 250th birthday in 2026.

“Let me end with this. It’s spring in Washington,” President Biden told reporters at the press conference. “The sun is shining. And every spring, cherry blossoms bloom across the city thanks to a gift from Japan of 3,000 cherry trees over a century ago. People travel all over our country and the world to see these magnificent blossoms.”

The new trees will be planted not far from the Martin Luther King Memorial, President Biden said.

“Like our friendship, these trees are timeless, inspiring, and thriving. May God bless the Japanese and American people,” he added.

The Japanese prime minister also gifted the White House some cherry saplings in person on Tuesday.

“We very much hope that they grow as a new symbol of the friendship Japan and the United States enjoy,” the prime minister’s office said in a post on the social media platform X.

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (L) and U.S. President Joe Biden (R) at the South Portico of the White House, on April 9, 2024. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

Wednesday’s press conference followed talks between the two leaders on the increasingly delicate security situation in the Pacific, after which both unveiled new plans for military cooperation, economic agreements, and an overall strengthened alliance amid rising threats from China and Russia.

That includes, for the first time, Japan, the United States, and Australia creating a joint air defense network of air, missile, and defense architecture, according to President Biden.

The United States and Japan also plan to hold a trilateral military exercise with Britain while the AUKUS defense partnership explores “how Japan can join our work in the second pillar, which focuses on advanced capabilities, including AI, autonomous systems,” he added.

“All told, that represents a new benchmark for our military cooperation across a range of capabilities,” President Biden said of the new plans.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.