Japan donates 250 cherry trees, fireworks for Trump’s DC refresh after PM watches World Series with prez
Japan first gave cherry trees to Washington in 1912. AFP/Getty Images
Tokyo — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced that Japan will donate 250 flowering cherry trees and a spectacular July 4th fireworks display to Washington, D.C., following a friendly meeting with President Trump where the two leaders shared a moment watching the World Series game between the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Takaichi, who became Japan’s first female prime minister just one week ago, highlighted the two nations’ shared love of baseball and Japan’s long tradition of gifting cherry trees to the U.S. as symbols of friendship. Her opening remarks to the press came after the meeting, which is expected to focus privately on military cooperation and trade policy.
“To the press corps, I’m very sorry we kept you waiting. As a matter of fact, Mr. President and I just enjoyed watching the Major League Baseball match,” Takaichi said with a smile. “Dodgers versus Blue Jays — and the Dodgers are now having a one-point lead. We really enjoyed the match.”
A conservative protégé of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Takaichi announced that Japan will gift the cherry trees to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary next year — and to mark what she called a “new golden age” of U.S.-Japan relations.
“To celebrate magnificently, we will extend a gift of 250 cherry trees to Washington, D.C.,” she said. “In addition, fireworks from Akita Prefecture will be shown in Washington, D.C., on July 4 next year.”
Japan’s new gift echoes the historic 1912 donation of more than 3,000 cherry trees during the administration of President Howard Taft — a gesture that became the foundation of Washington’s beloved Cherry Blossom Festival each spring.
President Trump, who is leading a broad revitalization of the nation’s capital that includes a major White House expansion and the proposed construction of a 250th anniversary triumphal arch near the Lincoln Memorial, praised Japan’s partnership.
“We’ve received your orders for a very large amount of new military equipment — and you know that we make the best military equipment in the world,” President Trump said. “We appreciate that order, and we very much appreciate the trade. We’re going to do tremendous trade together — more than ever before. We’re signing a new deal, and it’s a very fair deal.”
Earlier this year, Trump reached a landmark trade pact with Japan, lowering a proposed 25% reciprocal tariff to 15% in exchange for $550 billion in Japanese investments in the United States and expanded access for U.S. vehicles and agricultural exports. Japanese automobiles will also face the 15% rate under the agreement — still far below what other nations face.
The White House said no changes to the deal are expected this week. Both leaders signed a brief joint statement reaffirming the “GREAT DEAL” agreed to in July.
Trump and Takaichi also signed a separate accord to strengthen cooperation in securing rare-earth and critical minerals and countering “non-market policies and unfair trade practices” from China. The agreement follows similar commitments recently made by the U.S. with Australia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
The President’s three-nation Asia tour has focused on expanding economic ties and securing new trade commitments. During his first stop in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Trump signed agreements lowering tariffs on select goods from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam in exchange for major purchases of U.S. airplanes, natural gas, and agricultural products including soybeans and corn.
After visiting South Korea later this week, President Trump is expected to return to the U.S. — potentially with another major trade announcement — as he continues talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping to address Beijing’s export controls on rare-earth products, fentanyl smuggling, and the resumption of Chinese soybean imports.
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