picture of the day

Cherry Blossom Square

18 Comments

Women dressed in kimonos celebrate the start of Japan Week Thursday as New York's Times Square turns into “Cherry Blossom Square.” Japan Week is also being held to thank the United States for its support after last year's March 11 disaster. The cherry blossom was brought to the United States from Japan exactly 100 years ago, and Japan is celebrating the centennial in New York City.

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18 Comments
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Now that,s a worthy "picture of the day"..

5 ( +5 / -1 )

In modern times the cherry blossom would never be allowed to be introduced into the US due to potential for 'environmental contamination'. I for one am happy it was brought over; its soothes the soul! ^_^

2 ( +3 / -2 )

Gorgeous.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Beautiful!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Both Taiwan and the US were VERY generous. Grow up!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I'm just glad that they didnt send AKB over to pose for this shot!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

awesome picture with big background screens !

0 ( +1 / -1 )

excellent.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Very good picture...

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Thx for the cherry trees & all!

there have been cherry trees in NAmerica for a lot longer than 100yrs however

0 ( +1 / -1 )

That's awesome...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Bloomin' nice!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

zichi

Taiwans contribution ($165 million) surpassed that of the United States ($125 million), South Korea ($19 million), and China ($4 million).

US population 311 million.

Taiwan population 23 million.

. Taiwan was very generous, not US.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

for anyone interested the brooklyn botanical gardens have THE most lovely cherry trees on the east coast!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I do not see and cherry blossoms, just a poster with cherry blossoms and plastic branches from 100 yen shop.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Interesting topic, the cherry. They're native to Eurasia and were brought to North America by some of the earliest colonialists, both by the English to the East Coast and the Spanish to the West.

...due to potential for 'environmental contamination'.

Turns out that's exactly what happened. Wikipedia:

On August 30, 1909, the Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C., informed the U.S. Department of State that the city of Tokyo intended to donate 2000 cherry trees to the United States to be planted along the Potomac. These trees arrived in Washington, D.C., on January 6, 1910. However, the inspection team from the Department of Agriculture found that the trees were infested with insects and nematodes, concluding that the trees had to be destroyed to protect local growers. President Taft gave the order to burn the trees on January 28.

Fortunately, the fate of the second batch was more felicitous. As a return gift, the US presented dogwoods to Japan. Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Cherry_Blossom_Festival

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

This beautiful display of appreciation comes almost in time for 雛祭り (hinamatsuri). Gorgeous!

@IMHMC Cherry blossoms also wouldn't be introduced because others on the political spectrum would consider it foreign and "un-American" They are absolutely a beautiful sight to see.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

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