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The cherry blossom in Washington DC
2008-03-31
It's really great to soak in the vernal sunshine. It makes us happy, doesn't it?Why don't you go on a picnic or have a lunch in the open air?
Now, there are about 3,700 cherry trees around Tidal Basin in Washington DC.
These trees color the scenery beautiful vernal pink every year.
Oh, did you know that they were gifted from Japan as a pledge of friendship between America and Japan?
Look up at the sky covered with cherry blossom in DC
The Cherry Trees in Washington DC
In 1912, about 3,200 cherry trees were gifted by Yukio Ozaki who was the then mayor of Tokyo city. This idea was suggested by Helen Taft who was a wife of the 27th president. She attempted to fill with many beautiful cherry blossom from Japan.
3 years later, America gifted dogwood trees to Japan in consideration of our cherry trees. Cherry blossom and Dogwood, these trees are a symbolic of friendship Japan with America.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the relationship between both countries ran into serious. The gift from Japan was regarded as a hostile symbol and some of people tried to cut them down, but they were saved by the American people who loved cherry blossom. These trees in Washington DC have been cherished.
National Cherry Blossom Festival
National Cherry Blossom Festival is held in Washington DC from end of March to early April. We can enjoy a variety of activities ; parade, karaoke competition, Japanese food booth, and so on.It was really fun going to Washington DC in the season.
About National Cherry Blossom Festival
http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/cms/index.php?id=390
(追記）
アメリカから日本へ贈られたハナミズキは戦時中、敵国の物として傷つけられたりしたそうです。 調べたところによると、現在原木とされるハナミズキは
１、東京都立園芸高等学校
２、東京大学理学部付属小石川植物園
３、農水省果樹試験場
にそれぞれあるそうです。
そういえば、Tidal Basin にはビーバーが生息していて、しばしば桜の木を齧ってしまうので駆除の対象になっていたのをニュースで見たなぁ。まだいるのかな？ビーバー。
Photo Gallery
ちょっと怖いぞモリゾー！
Fate or by chance?
2008-02-14
Now, the topic about primary election is one of the most interesting topics in the U.S. Barack Obama gained a victory in Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia this time.
I can remember that John Kerry won the primary election in D.C. area in 2004. Which candidates will be elected as president do you think?
Talking of president, do you know the story that Lincoln and John F. Kennedy have mysterious similarity.
Mysterious Similarity between Lincoln and Kennedy
・Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.
・John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.
・Lincoln was elected president in 1860.
・Kennedy was elected president in 1960.
・Both presidents concerned with problem of civil rights for African American.
・Both presidents were shot in the head on Friday.
・Both presidents were assassinated by Southerners.
・Lincoln had a secretary named Kennedy.
・Kennedy had a secretary named Lincoln.
Both secretaries warned president not to go away to have a campaign.
・Lincoln was shot at the theater named Ford.
・Kennedy was shot in a car named Lincoln made by Ford.
・John Wilkes Booth who was a suspect of Lincoln's assassination was born in 1839.
・Harvey Oswald who was a suspect of Kennedy's assassination was born in 1939.
・Booth shot Lincoln in a theater and hid in a warehouse.
・Oswald shot Kennedy from a warehouse and hid in a theater.
Well... Hang on second! There is an objection like this.
Objection
・There is no record to show that Lincoln had a secretary named Kennedy.(There used to be a secretary named John.)
・It is said that, to tell the truth, Booth was born in 1838.
・There is nothing surprising an assassin aims at the head to claim life surely.
・It is not so particular president concerns with problem of African American.
・In the first place, it is doubted if Oswald was a really suspect.(The U.S. government says that details about Kennedy's assassination will be shown in 2039.)
・The presidential election is held every 4 years, so there is not so surprise to be elected president in 100 years later which is applied as multiples of 4.
・Booth was born in Maryland. Maryland is regarded as a "border state", so it is difficult to judge whether he was a Southerner born and bread or not.
Which do you think that it is certainly fate or just only by chance? I think there is an opinion of pros and cons. In my opinion, I hope there is fate and miracle in the world. Because I think it may be a kind of fate that I lived in America and I could meet many good friends through the experience. Of course including you!
Washington D.C.
2007-12-15
Now, I'll give you the grand tour to Washington D.C..
Washington D.C. is the capital city of the United States.
It doesn't belong any other states. The official name is "Washington, District of Columbia"
It was named after George Washington; the first president of the U.S. and
Christopher Columbus who is an explorer of America.
In the U.S., people often call there "Washington DC" or "DC",
rather than "Washington" in order not to confuse state of Washington in Western coast.
DC is located on near midstream of Potomac River.
The scenery from George Washington Memorial Parkway (The name of a road) is very beautiful. I thought I told you before that I really love there very much!
I make an arbitrary decision to call there " The Ash Point". It's not the place to celebrate Ash Wednesday.
Sorry, It's a secret why ash point there is.
