Japan gifts Washington 250 cherry trees
Japan will gift 250 cherry trees to Washington for the U.S. 250th Independence anniversary next year, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced during talks with President Trump in Tokyo.
- World
- DPA
- Published Date: 11:17 | 28 October 2025
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Tuesday that Japan will donate 250 cherry trees to Washington to mark the 250th anniversary of US independence next year.
Takaichi, who has been in power for a week, announced the gift during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in Tokyo.
Cherry trees are a popular photo spot in the US capital, where their blossoms turn the city into a sea of pink and white each spring and are featured on souvenirs.
The planting of cherry trees in Washington originated over a century ago as a gift of friendship from Japan, according to US information.
The tradition of celebrating the cherry blossom dates back centuries in Japan.
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