Members of Congress stood on their feet Thursday as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida spoke about Japan’s donation of 250 new cherry trees to replace those being cut down to shore up the crumbling Tidal Basin in Washington, DC.
Kishida addressed Congress as part of his official state visit to Washington this week.
The speech follows a lavish state dinner at the White House on Wednesday evening, attended by notable guests including Robert DeNiro, Jeff Bezos and his girlfriend Lauren Sanchez, as well as former President Bill Clinton and the former Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
“I know the National Park Service is undertaking a rehabilitation project in the Tidal Basin. As a gesture of friendship, Japan will provide 250 cherry trees to be planted there in anticipation of the 250th anniversary of your independence,” Kishida said, prompting lawmakers to jump to their feet.
This year, during the cherry blossom season, many locals and tourists came to the Tidal Basin to pay their respects to one doomed tree in particular, affably nicknamed “Stumpy.”
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida addressed a joint meeting of Congress on Thursday afternoon after attending a lavish state dinner at the White House on Wednesday evening. He received a standing ovation when he spoke about the gift of cherry trees from Japan.
This year, during the cherry blossom season, many locals and tourists traveled to the Tidal Basin to pay their respects to one doomed tree in particular, affably nicknamed “Stumpy” (pictured).
Stumpy’s stump is practically hollowed out and the tree is down to one branch – and yet, year after year, the tree produces a mass of cherry blossoms each spring – despite being flooded by the waters of the tidal pool twice a day.
Stumpy is one of about 150 cherry trees that will be cut down in May so work can begin to strengthen the failing tidal basin seawall.
The entire project will cost $113 million and take three years, the National Park Service announced last month.
Once the work is completed, 455 trees, including 274 cherry trees, will be replanted in the area, the NPS said.
The new Japanese donation was first announced Wednesday as President Joe Biden welcomed Kishida to the White House in a large-scale ceremony on the South Lawn.
The original trees were gifted by the Japanese to the Americans in 1912.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida received a standing ovation from members of Congress on Thursday as he announced Japan’s donation of 250 fresh cherry trees to replace those being cut down around the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC.
Flowers were laid to honor “Stumpy” who will be felled in May as part of the National Park Service’s seawall restoration project around the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC.
“Let me finish with this. It’s spring in Washington. The sun is shining. And every spring, cherry trees bloom throughout the city thanks to a donation from Japan of 3,000 cherry trees more than a century ago,” the president said. “People travel all over our country and the world to see these beautiful flowers.”
Biden noted that the Kishidas had joined the president and first lady the night before to visit the cherry blossoms on the White House campus.
“The one that Jill and Ms. Kishida planted together a year ago,” the president said. “The other two are among 250 new trees that Japan gifted to the United States to honor our 250th anniversary in two years.”
“They will be planted at the Tidal Basin, not far from the Martin Luther King Memorial,” Biden said.
“And like our friendship, these trees are timeless, inspiring and thriving,” the president said.
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