Members of Congress jumped to their feet Thursday as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida spoke about Japan’s gift of 250 new cherry trees to replace those 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 came on the heels of a lavish state dinner at the White House on Wednesday night, attended by A-list guests including Robert DeNiro, Jeff Bezos and his girlfriend Lauren Sanchez, and former President Bill Clinton and former Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
‘I know that the National Park Service is conducting 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 its independence,” Kishida said, prompting lawmakers to stand up.
During this year’s peak cherry blossom season, crowds of locals and tourists alike flocked to the Tidal Basin to pay homage to one doomed tree in particular, affably referred to as ‘Stumpy.’
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida addressed a joint meeting of Congress on Thursday afternoon after attending a glitzy state dinner at the White House on Wednesday night. He received a standing ovation when he mentioned the donation of cherry trees from Japan.
During this year’s peak cherry blossom season, crowds of locals and tourists alike headed to the Tidal Basin to pay tribute to one doomed tree in particular, affably known as ‘Stumpy’ (pictured).
Stumpy’s stump is practically hollowed out and the tree only has one branch left; However, year after year, the tree has produced a large number of cherry blossoms each spring, despite being inundated by the waters of the Tidal Basin twice a day.
Stumpy is among approximately 150 cherry trees that will be cut down in May so construction can begin to reinforce the failed Tidal Basin seawall.
The entire project will cost $113 million and last three years, the National Park Service announced last month.
When completed, 455 trees, including 274 cherry trees, will be replanted in the area, NPS said.
The new Japanese donation was first announced Wednesday when President Joe Biden welcomed Kishida to the White House with a large-scale ceremony on the South Lawn.
The original trees were donated by the Japanese to the Americans in 1912.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida receives 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 have been left to pay tribute to ‘Stumpy,’ which will be cut down in May as part of the National Park Service’s seawall restoration project around the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC.
‘Let me finish this. It’s spring in Washington. The sun is shining. And every spring, cherry trees bloom all over the city thanks to a gift 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 magnificent blossoms.”
Biden commented on how the Kishidas had joined the president and first lady to visit the cherry blossom trees on the White House campus the night before.
“One that Jill and Mrs. Kishida planted together a year ago,” the president said. “The other two are among 250 new trees that Japan has gifted to the United States to honor our 250th birthday in two years.”
“They will be planted in the Tidal Basin, not far from the Martin Luther King Memorial,” Biden said.
“And just like our friendship, these trees are timeless, inspiring and thriving,” the president said.