Japanese artists expressed gratitude for U.S. support in the aftermath of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami at the opening ceremony Sunday of the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington.
Hideki Togi, a renowned performer of ancient Japanese music, said he was impressed with the U.S. aid, speaking to an audience of thousands at the ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the planting of 3,000 cherry trees given in 1912 to the United States by Japan as a symbol of friendship.
At the ceremony, American singer Sara Bareilles recalled her volunteer experience at the tsunami-devastated city of Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, and said people engaging in reconstruction efforts there were "inspirational."
Due to unusually warm weather in Washington, many cherry blossoms are already past peak bloom, but Ichiro Fujisaki, Japan's ambassador to the United States, drew a laugh at the ceremony by saying, "We can now concentrate on the festival" rather than on cherry-blossom viewing.
The festival, which started March 20, runs until April 27.
Japanese R&B singer Misia sang "Toward Tomorrow," a song to encourage the recovery effprt, at the ceremony.
The festival is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors this year.
