Wednesday, April 25, 9:00 a.m. – Museum of Fine Arts Boston to Receive Historic Flowering Cherry Tree for Japanese Garden
As part of the celebration to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the gift of flowering cherry trees from Japan to the US, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston will be the recipient of a tree grafted from the original Japanese trees in Washington’s Tidal Basin. On Wednesday, April 25 at 9:00 am, when the Museum’s renowned Tenshin-en Japanese garden opens for the season, the cherry tree will be presented to Museum of Fine Arts Boston Director Malcolm Rogers by Consul General of Japan in Boston Takeshi Hikihara.
The more than 3000 trees which were planted in Washington in 1912 were a gift from Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki to express Japan’s appreciation to the U.S. for its role in brokering the Treaty of Portsmouth which ended the Russo-Japanese War. The cherry trees have become a symbol of the close relations between Japan and the United States.
The Greater Boston-Japan Cherry Blossom Festival 2012, marking the centennial of the trees, began in March and will continue through May. Upcoming events include Haru Matsuri, a Japanese-style festival in Copley Square, a Kioi Sinfonietta Tokyo concert at Harvard University as well as other performances, lectures and exhibits. For further information visit:
Consulate General of Japan in Boston: www.boston.us.emb-japan.go.jp/
Japan Society of Boston: www.japansocietyboston.org/sakura/eng
For national information, see:
Embassy of Japan in Washington DC: www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/sakura100
For questions regarding this event, contact: Richard Winslow, r.winslow@cgjbos.org or 617 973-9772 x137
