Dogwood trees planted to celebrate Japan-U.S. friendship

Dogwood trees planted to celebrate Japan-U.S. friendship

YOKOHAMA, Japan - U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos (2nd from R) and Yokohama Mayor Fumiko Hayashi (L) take part in a ceremony to plant a hundred American dogwood trees at a park in Yokohama, near Tokyo on March 29, 2013, to celebrate the friendship between Japan and the United States. The trees from the United States are a reciprocal gift to mark the 100th anniversary of Japan's donation of 3,000 cherry tree saplings.

Dogwood trees sent to Tokyo from U.S.

Dogwood trees sent to Tokyo from U.S.

WASHINGTON, United States - Dogwood trees are loaded onto a truck in Washington on Oct. 22, 2012. A ceremony was held the same day at the National Arboretum in the U.S. capital to send 3,000 dogwood trees from the United States to Japan over a three-year period as a symbol of bilateral friendship for the next 100 years, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the donation of 3,000 cherry blossoms from Tokyo to Washington in 1912.

Dogwood trees sent to Tokyo from U.S.

Dogwood trees sent to Tokyo from U.S.

WASHINGTON, United States - James Zumwalt, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for Japan and Korean affairs, gives a speech during a ceremony at the National Arboretum in Washington on Oct. 22, 2012, which was held to send 3,000 dogwood trees from the United States to Japan over a three-year period as a symbol of bilateral friendship for the next 100 years, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the donation of 3,000 cherry blossoms from Tokyo to Washington in 1912.

Red Sox presented with cherry blossom tree

Red Sox presented with cherry blossom tree

BOSTON, United States - Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine (2nd from L) and team right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka (L) accept a potted cherry blossom tree from Takeshi Hikihara (2nd from R), the consul general of Japan in Boston, and his wife (R) at Fenway Park in Boston on May 14, 2012, before a game against the Seattle Mariners, in a ceremony to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the stadium and also Japan's gift of 3,000 cherry trees to Washington.

Cherry blossoms at Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C.

Cherry blossoms at Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, United States - Cherry trees along the Potomac riverfront have started to blossom, with full blooms expected around the middle of next week. The Tidal Basin cherry trees are among 3,000 sent from Japan in 1912 as a symbol of Japan-U.S. friendship. The city of Washington will host a cherry blossom festival from March 31 to April 15. A cherry blossom parade will take place on April 14.