Boston Flora

Tag: Japan Cherry Blossom Festival

  • 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

  • Wednesday, April 18, 3:00 pm – Japanese Cherry Tree Planting

    Governor Deval Patrick, Mayor Thomas Menino and Japan Airlines Chairman Emeritus Kazuo Inamori will join Consul General of Japan in Boston Takeshi Hikihara for a ceremonial planting of Japanese flowering cherry trees in Boston’s Public Garden on Wednesday, April 18 at 3:00pm near the corner of Beacon and Charles Streets.

    The planting ceremony is part of the Greater Boston-Japan Cherry Blossom Festival which marks the 100th anniversary of the gift of Japanese flowering cherry trees from Japan to the United States. The original trees, which were planted in Washington D.C., have become a symbol of the close relations between the two countries. One of the cherry trees to be planted in the Public Garden is a graft produced from those in Washington’s Tidal Basin.

    At the April 18 ceremony guests will hear remarks from Governor Patrick, Mayor Menino, Chairman Emeritus Inamori and Consul General Hikihara. Women of the World, a rising international vocal ensemble made up of Berklee graduates, and Japanese koto player, Ms. Yuki Yasuda, will add enjoyable cultural color to the occasion.

    For further information on the Greater Boston-Japan Cherry Blossom Festival 2012, which includes a gagaku (Japanese Imperial Court music) concert; Haru Matsuri, a Japanese-style festival in Copley Square as well as other performances, lectures and exhibits, 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: Susan Gill s.gill@cgjbos.org or 617 973-9772