Mid-Week Sakura Song

The cherry trees in Washington, DC have passed their peak bloom period, so we have to await next year's stunning display. The trees, gifted by the people of Japan in 1912, endure as a symbol of the close friendship between the people of Japan and the U.S., and are the focus of the world-famous National Cherry Blossom Festival. At the suggestion of dear friend P.E.C., who is traveling to Japan soon, we dedicate today's traditional Japanese song "Sakura" (cherry tree 桜 ) to that friendship and to the sakura that symbolize it.

The song is performed by Japanese master musician Toshiko Yonekawa (米川 敏子), playing the koto, the iconic Japanese stringed instrument.