007 The Most Famous Cherry Blossoms Outside Of Japan

Let's Talk Japan Podcast

It’s officially hanami season and the cherry blossoms are in full bloom here in Washington, D.C. Each spring, over a million and a half people come to see the most famous cherry blossoms outside of Japan. In this episode, Nick speaks with Ambassador John Malott, president of the Japan-America Society of Washington, D.C., about this living symbol of U.S.-Japan friendship and its 101-year history.

To learn more about the history of Washington, D.C.’s cherry blossoms, check out this books:

The Cherry Blossom Festival: Sakura Celebration, by Ann McClellan

Eliza’s Cherry Trees: Japan’s Gift To America, by Andrea Griffing Zimmerman

Cherry Blossom Friends, by Corky Hay DeSimone

For more information about the National Cherry Blossom Festival and the Sakura Matsuri, visit nationalcherryblossomfestival.org and sakuramatsuri.org. The U.S. National Park Service website also has some great information about the cherry blossoms and their history.

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Happy hanami!