FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 22, 2012

CONTACT:
Melissa Figueroa (916) 653-4090
melissa.figueroa@scsa.ca.gov

Sacramento- State and Consumer Services Agency Secretary Anna Caballero will join Japan's Consul General Hiroshi Inomata, Thursday in Sacramento, for a commemorative tree planting to recognize the Centennial Anniversary of Japan's cherry blossom donation to the United States.

100 years ago, the people of Japan gave 3,000 cherry blossom trees, a beloved symbol of Japan, to the United States as a gesture of goodwill. The trees were planted in Washington, DC around the tidal basin, where they still bloom today. The planting was part of First Lady Nellie Taft's efforts to beautify the nation's capital. Together with the Statue of Liberty, the cherry blossom trees represent the largest foreign gifts ever made to the United States.

To celebrate the centennial commemoration of this gift, Japan is once again donating cherry blossom trees to communities with significant friendship ties between the United States and Japan. California is receiving three trees which will be planted surrounding the Vietnam Memorial in Capitol Park by the Department of General Services.