Lanterns illuminate cherry blossoms in Misawa

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. April Quintanilla
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Spring is a time for new beginnings, new life and blooming flowers, and the blooming of cherry blossoms in Japan makes spring one of the most beautiful seasons throughout the country. 

U.S. Air Force leadership and Japanese officials gathered together to light hundreds of lanterns at the Misawa Cherry Blossom Festival in Misawa City, Japan, April 29, 2014. This event is one of many demonstrations held throughout the year that displays a strong bilateral relationship among the U.S. and Japanese community.

In additon to cherry blossom trees in the local area, you'll see several cherry blossoms blooming around Misawa Air Base. The trees surrounding Risner Circle were once planted in the early 1970s to beautify the base.

The popularity of cherry blossoms first spread to the U.S. in the 1900s. More than 3,000 cherry trees from 12 different varieties were shipped from Yokohama, Japan, to Washington, D.C., as a gift of friendship. Over the years, other large donations and purchases of cherry blossom trees have been made, increasing the number of cherry trees in U.S. states by the thousands.

In 1982 a natural disaster in Japan destroyed Tidal Basin Yoshina trees across the country. As a result, the U.S. extended an offer to Japanese horticulturists to gather approximately 800 cuttings to replace what was lost.

Cherry blossom trees continue to represent a strong friendship between the two nations' alliance.

You can enjoy this beautiful sight behind the Misawa Community Center, down the street from the main gate until May 6.