美国总统夫人米歇尔·欧巴马（Michelle Obama）和日本驻美大使夫人藤崎顺子（Yoriko Fujisaki）又在同样的地点参加植树，纪念延续了100年的情谊。

1912年3月27日，日本向美国赠送了3,000棵樱花树。威廉·塔夫脱（William Taft）总统夫人海伦·塔夫脱（Helen Taft）与当时日本驻美大使夫人珍田女士（Viscountess Iwa Chinda）一起在朝汐湖（ Tidal Basin）亲手种下了两棵樱花树。100年后的今天，美国总统夫人米歇尔·欧巴马（Michelle Obama）和日本驻美大使夫人藤崎顺子（Yoriko Fujisaki）又在同样的地点植树，纪念延续了100年的情谊。

米歇尔·欧巴马说， 一些小朋友受邀参加这次植树活动，因为“我们要让他们了解我们两国的伟大友谊。……我们要让他们知道欣赏和学习其他国家的传统和文化。”

米歇尔·欧巴马是国家樱花节（National Cherry Blossom Festival）的名誉主席。

国家樱花节的庆祝活动将持续到4月27日，其中为小朋友们安排的活动包括舞蹈表演、日本手工艺项目、日本动漫联播、街头节庆活动、龙舟赛、游行和焰火表演。

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama helped plant a cherry tree sapling near the Tidal Basin in Washington on March 27, the 100th anniversary of the planting of 3,000 cherry trees given to the United States by Japan. She is honorary chair of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which offers many activities for children.

It was a modern version of a scene that took place exactly 100 years ago to the day. U.S. first lady Michelle Obama and Yoriko Fujisaki, wife of the Japanese ambassador to the United States, planted a cherry tree near the Tidal Basin to mark the anniversary of the ceremony on March 27, 1912, when U.S. first lady Helen Taft and Iwa Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, planted two of the 3,000 cherry trees Japan presented to the United States as a token of friendship.

Obama said a group of school children were invited to watch the modern tree-planting because “we want to teach them about the great partnership between our nations. … We want to teach them to appreciate and learn from the traditions and cultures of others.”

She is the honorary chair of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which continues through April 27 and offers activities for children, such as dance performances, Japanese craft projects, an anime (Japanese cartoon) marathon, a street festival, dragon boat races, a parade and fireworks.

See U.S. Marks 100th Anniversary of Japan’s Gift of Cherry Trees.