Have you ever seen cherry blossoms ? Cherry blossoms are one of the popular flowers in the spring. When Cherry blossoms start to bloom, people can feel spring. So, in this article, I would like to talk about the history of cherry blossoms and why the Japanese government gave cherry blossoms to Washington, D.C. 

First, let’s talk about the history of cherry blossoms. The oldest Japanese document of cherry blossoms was written in 712. The cherry blossom is a symbol of agriculture. That’s because cherry blossoms are called the index of agriculture in Japan. It is easy to understand the season when rice and other vegetables are starting to bloom. In the Heiann Era, which means in 894, aristocrats started  to enjoy watching cherry blossoms. And,  they started to hold a party under the tree. To gather under the tree, they enjoyed drinking  and eating. It’s called Hanami, which means to watch cherry blossoms. Cherry blossoms were getting popular because of this. The flower language of cherry blossoms represents a time of renewal and optimism, symbolized as an omen of good fortune.

Second, let’s talk about why the Japanese government gave cherry blossoms to Washington, D.C. The planting of cherry trees in Washington, D.C. originated in 1912 as a gift of friendship to the People of the United States from the People of Japan. They gave thousands of cherry blossoms to Washington, D.C. And, to recover the cost for these cherry blossoms, over $102,000 was corrected from all around the world.

Now, cherry blossoms are popular all around the world. People enjoy their smells and looking at them.  Scientists continue to improve their species to make them more enjoyable. Because of this, they now have over 100 species. To know the history and what happened at that time is very interesting, and it makes me be proud to be Japanese.