Prince Iyesato Tokugawa guided the Japanese gifting of the cherry blossom trees to the U.S. Capital in 1910 and 1912 into becoming an international token of goodwill which is now officially known as the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival – His behind the scenes role in accomplishing this diplomatic success was discovered while researching for the illustrated biography on Prince Tokugawa, titled: THE ART OF PEACE.
[Note: Prince Tokugawa (1863-1940) while traveling outside of Japan went by the name Prince Iyesato Tokugawa, while in Japan, he was known as Prince Tokugawa Iesato.]
The above May 5, 1910 New York Daily Tribune announced the coming arrival of Prince Iyesato Tokugawa to New York City, following his visit to Washington, D.C. Scheduled to coincide with the arrival of Prince Tokugawa, was the recent arrival of a delegation of sixty Japanese. Prince Tokugawa and his delegation had spent time together in the U.S. Capital, prior to visiting New York City. Several of the Japanese delegation are shown in the newspaper photos. The individual standing between the gentlemen in the long white coat and the individual in the white hat is Yukio Ozaki Mayor of Japan’s capital city of Tokyo, who is the Japanese official most remembered linked to the gifting of the cherry blossom trees to the U.S. capital city of Washington, D.C. This recognition being given to Mayor Ozaki is based on Prince Tokugawa’s humility and wisdom, he preferred this gift be seen symbolically coming from the nation of Japan, rather than highlight his own role in bringing it about.
(Left) Sectional view from The New York Daily Tribune 1910 photo, Mayor Ozaki is in the center. (Right photo for comparison) Circa 1920 photo of Mayor Ozaki.
The goodwill delegation accompanying Prince Tokugawa included bankers, physicians, lawyers, merchants, sociologists and newspaper men, who were on a world tour. Besides America, their itinerary included France, Germany, Switzerland, and Russian Siberia. They desired to familiarize themselves with the outside world, and also encourage the outside world to have a better understanding of Japan.
During his 1910 visit, Prince Tokugawa met and dined with President Taft at the White House. Prince Tokugawa and two visiting members of the Imperial family were also honored with a luncheon by the Japan Society of Manhattan. A hundred guests were present, with the President of the Society, Lindsay Russell, presiding. At that event, Prince Tokugawa expressed his appreciation of the Japan Society, which was founded just three years earlier in 1907 and continues to this day to promote good U.S. Japan relations . . . That evening, a special dinner was held by the Japan Society for Mayor Yukio Ozaki. This gave Prince Tokugawa an opportunity to introduce Yukio Ozaki to leading members of the Japanese-American community and to the general American public as part of promoting the Japanese gift of cherry blossom trees.
Though, Prince Tokugawa held the powerful position of President of Japan’s upper house of congress The House of Peers, when asked by reporters why he had come to America in 1910, as was his style, he humbly declared he was there in no official capacity – However, he expressed his interest in the comparative study of the governmental systems of other modern nations. He visited the U.S. Congress twice to see her political process in action. To better understand the U.S. legal system, Tokugawa viewed a corporate lawsuit trial.
On a lighter note, while in New York City, Prince Tokugawa was greatly amused when he visited Madison Square Garden and saw a Wild West Show, with cowboys straining to hang onto bucking mustangs! – As for sports, Tokugawa had become an avid baseball fan well before his 1910 visit. He beamed as he told U.S. reporters about the excitingly competitive intercollegiate baseball games he’d seen in Japan between the University of Wisconsin and the Tokio College team. Tokugawa expressed the hope that many more games would be arranged between American and Japanese college teams, and that he wished to see baseball become the national game of Japan. Tokugawa sincerely believed that nations that shared a love for such a fine sport, would likely remain good allies. Two decades later, Prince Tokugawa arranged for the American All-Star Team to visit Japan to play ball.
The Japanese initially gifted two thousand cherry blossom trees in 1910. Regrettably, those trees were diseased and had to be destroyed. To remedy this unexpected setback and further build upon this goodwill gesture, in 1912 the Japanese sent an even greater number, three thousand and twenty cherry blossom trees of twelve varieties. President Taft and his wife would be the official U.S. representatives receiving this gift.
In terms of the evolution of the Cherry Blossom Festival, from 1913 – 1920: workmen continued planting the Japanese cherry blossom trees around the Washington, D.C. Tidal Basin and in East Potomac Park. However, no events occurred to commemorate the gift, that is, until 1922, when the first annual gatherings began. – What is significant is that during 1921-1922, Prince Tokugawa returned to the U.S. to ally with the current President Warren Harding during the Washington Naval Arms (Limitation) Conference, the first truly international conference held in the U.S. Capital. Prince Tokugawa headed the Japanese delegation – It was during this successful conference, that Prince Tokugawa most likely also found time to encourage the Japanese cherry blossom gift into becoming an annual celebration. Below is a signed portrait etching of Prince Tokugawa, drawn during that 1921-1922 conference.
1920s: a painter & several photographers are at the Tidal Basin facing the Washington Monument, attempting to capture the beauty of the cherry trees in bloom. Photo: Library of Congress.
During 1930 and during 1933-1934, Prince Tokugawa again travelled across the U.S. – During that last visit, he further promoted the goodwill of the 1912 Japanese gift. Prince Tokugawa was a luncheon guest of his friends Colonel Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (son of deceased President) and his mother Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt. This was followed by a more formal luncheon given in Prince Tokugawa’s honor by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The impressive guest list at this event included: the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; the Secretaries of State, Treasury, and Interior; several Congressman, the Under Secretary of State (and former U.S. Ambassador to Belgium and Canada); the Surgeon General, and the Chairman of the American Red Cross John Barton Payne. [Source: “Formal Luncheon Given By President Roosevelt Entertains for the Head of the Japanese Red Cross, Prince Iyesato Tokugawa.” The New York Times, March 2, 1934.]
It is significant to recognize that Prince Tokugawa was in Washington, D.C. during March 1934, the month preceding the “first formal festival” commemorating the 1912 Japanese gift of cherry trees – On April 19th, 1934: The District of Columbia Commissioners sponsored a three-day Cherry Blossom Festival.
The following year, 1935, the National Cherry Blossom Festival ‘Officially’ became an annual event in the U.S. Capital.
Prince Tokugawa had accomplished his mission, helping launch this important international goodwill event. He would likely have wished to attend the 1934 inauguration ceremony, but his schedule required him to be on the West Coast to receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from the University of Southern California (USC). The book cover for the biography THE ART OF PEACE presents him receiving this degree from the president of USC, for his support of foreign student exchange programs & for his international philanthropic contributions.
“THE ART OF PEACE“ IS AVAILABLE AS A DIGITAL EBOOK
PRINCE TOKUGAWA’S BIOGRAPHY IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN A PRINT and KINDLE EDITION
Below are several additional historical photos and some recent ones linked to the Cherry Blossom Festival:
April 16, 1934 press photo describes a Cherry Tree Spectacle that brought 100,000 visitors to Washington, D.C., over the weekend to witness the beautiful cherry trees in bloom. This was in preparation for the Cherry Blossom Festival to be held the following week. Some of these trees were further beautified with electric lighting.
March 18, 1937 press photo gives further insight into Prince Tokugawa’s important role in the establishment of the National Cherry Blossom Festival: The Garden Club of America wanted to thank Prince Tokugawa and Japan for the hospitality shown to their garden club members from across the U.S., during their 1935 visit, when they toured the most beautiful of Japan’s gardens, as well as her historical sites. The garden club also wished to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Japanese gifting of the cherry blossom trees to the U.S. in 1912. When they reciprocated in 1937, with a gift of 4,650 flowering trees and plants, who better to receive this gift to Japan, than Prince Tokugawa. As it had been him, who introduced the then Mayor of Tokyo to the U.S. leaders in Washington, D.C. in 1910, as part of launching that goodwill gesture.
In the above photo, Prince Tokugawa is now accompanied by the current Mayor of Tokyo, Torataro Ushitsuka. Together, they represented Japan in receiving these gifted trees and plants from the Garden Club of America. They were joined by the current U.S. Ambassador Joseph Clark Grew and his wife, who represented the United States. Photo shows the official group at tea, after having attended the gifting ceremony held at Kiyozumi Park, Tokyo.
Left to right: Prince Tokugawa, Ambassador Grew, Mayor Ushitsuka, and Mrs. Grew, with her back to the camera.
“The Queen of the 1937 National Cherry Blossom Festival” Washington, D.C.
25th Anniversary Celebration commemorating the 1912 Japanese gift, Sakiko Saito (left) age 10, is ceremonially crowned Queen of this goodwill event. Sakiko is accompanied by her entourage: her sister, Masako Saito (right) age 8, and Barbara Caldwell (center) age 10, who is the Maid of Honor representing the U.S. Sakiko and Masako are the daughters of the Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. Hirosi Saito. Source press photo.
The 1930s were a difficult time in terms of the world economic depression, with powerful forces pushing the world towards war. To counter this, nation-bridging efforts were promoted by Prince Tokugawa and his allies. The above December 21st, 1936 press photo presents Japanese Ambassador Saito’s younger daughter Masako (7 years old), along with other foreign diplomats’ children (dressed in their nations’ traditional clothing) sending Merry Christmas greetings by radio broadcast to youngsters around the world. This was the fourth annual broadcast of its kind.
Prince Tokugawa felt that life was precious and meant to be celebrated!
Tokugawa and his allies would be delighted to see the goodwill event they launched many years ago, continues to bring joy to so many today, contributing to better understanding between nations – Perhaps one day, Prince Tokugawa’s memory will be be honored as part of this wonderful celebration.
The above photo and those that follow are provided courtesy of The National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. a not-for-profit organization whose mission is:
“Dedicated to promoting the beauty of nature and international friendship through year-round programs, events, and educational initiatives that enhance our environment, showcase arts and culture, and build community spirit.”
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