>> Well, welcome to the first object lesson celebrating the 2022 National Cherry Blossom Festival hosted by the library's prints and photographs division, which marks the hundred-tenth anniversary of the cherry blossom tree gift form the city of Tokyo to Washington DC. My name is Mari Nakahara. My official title is Curator of Architecture, Design, and Engineering at the library's prints and photographs division. However, I, together with Katherine Blood, my dearest colleague and who is also helping me today, have been actively promoting the library's cherry blossom related collections, as well as those related to Japanese culture since 2012 when we celebrated the hundredth anniversary of the cherry blossom tree gift from the city of Tokyo to Washington DC. In 2012, we mounted an exhibition. And 8 years later in 2020, we published a book. The exhibition is still accessible through the library's website, whose link is posted in chat. Not only viewing the images, I strongly recommend you explore the section called 'learn more', where you will find further resources and [inaudible], through which you can walk through the exhibition. Before we get started, we want to mention that we'll be answering questions at the end of the presentation. If you have any questions, please put them in Q and A, not in chat. Katherine will be tracking and possibly answering your questions, even during the presentation. This presentation is being recorded, including our Q and A discussion, and it will become available through the library's website later on. Here, we are showing a picture of the Library of Congress Capitol Hill campus where we have three main buildings, and that red arrow points to where the prints and photographs division is located in the Madison Building. You can see a picture of our reading room on the right. The reading room opening status has been changing, and we are hoping to return to a complete, normal operation very soon. For further details, please refer to website shown in chat or contact us via Ask a Librarian. To begin, I'd like to briefly introduce the prints and photographs division collections as a whole. Prints and photographs division calls almost 17 million visual materials, such as photographs, graphic cards, and architecture, design, and engineering collections. This slide shows some examples of that. I searched keyword 'cherry blossoms' in the print and photographs division online catalog we call PPOC, P-P-O-C. As you see, the search results show various types of materials such as cartoons, renderings, National Cherry Blossom Festival posters, Japanese posters, photographs, and [inaudible] prints. Most of the prints and the photograph's division collections were made in the United States and reflect experiences of Americans. However, as you see here, it depends on subject and the collections are also international in scope. Let me start with a very brief story of the Cherry Blossom Tree Gift from the city of Tokyo to Washington DC in 1912. Most of the trees were planted in the area surrounding the Tidal Basin in Washington DC, as shown in the photos. The gift resulted from the work and the passion of many people, such as the mayor of Tokyo, Yukio Ozaki and his wife Yei Theodora Ozaki, President William Howard Taft and his wife Helen Taft, and the journalist [inaudible], and of course, government officials from both countries. The first gift of 2,000 trees was sent in 1910. Unfortunately, most of them had to be destroyed due to insect infestation. The US government was concerned that this unfortunate outcome might damage relations with Japan. However, rather than taking offense, the Japanese government determined to send a fresh, even larger shipment of 3,000 trees, thereby maintaining the trust that had been established between the two countries. Today's talk is about these 3,000 trees, closely looking through their varieties. Okay. Time to learn more about the gifted trees. Let me ask the following questions, because the hint to get to know these 3,000 gifted trees is hidden in this poster. First, do you think the trees in the postcard really cherry blossoms? Where do you think the location is? I will give you 5 to 7 seconds to look at them closely. [ Silence ] Voila! I was hiding some of the clues of the answers to my question in former slides. This is a Japanese post card from sometime between 1933 and 1944, the exact date is unknown, but we can tell the range of the years by learning history of the Japanese post card. This is a scene of the springtime at the Arakawa River embankment in Tokyo, which had become famous for cherry blossom by the late nineteenth century to early twentieth century. If you look at the title of the postcard, it says, 'the five colors cherry tree' in English on your left and in Japanese on your right. I don't find quite 5 colors, but at least I see is 3 colors, pink, yellow, purple. Pink, no doubt. Right? But yellow and purple, really? Have you ever seen ones which are different color than pink? Aren't you more familiar with this same field with pink? This is a key point of today's talk, to observe different varieties of cherry blossoms so that you can enjoy multiple types of cherry blossom trees, possibly nearby your house. As mentioned, the first tree gift in 1910 was unsuccessful. The second gift of 3,000 trees was selected after comprehensive studies by Dr. Miyoshi, a professor of the Imperial University of Tokyo, as well as the Imperial Agriculture Specialist who closely worked with Seisaku Funatsu, a cherry tree grower at Tokyo's Arakawa river embankment. The person with an arrow is the photo -- in the photo is Mr. Funatsu. Probably, you now see relationship between the Arakawa River embankment and the 1912 gift. Funatsu was a connoisseur of the cherry trees and was particularly adept at differentiating one variety from another. It is said that 78 varieties of cherry trees had to be planted along the Arakawa River embankment by 1903. From that [inaudible], 12 variety of trees [inaudible] his own documentation and the collection of cherry tree specimens at the Arakawa River embankment. Then he provided [inaudible], which were grafted to specially selected root stock, and the [inaudible] with extraordinary care at the Imperial Horticulture Station of [inaudible] before being shipped to the United States. The library's prints and photographs division called restoration of 11 of the 12 selections in the collections. Why do we have them? It's because of this person with an arrow, Dr. Walter Swingle, a botanist of the US Department of Agriculture. When Dr. Swingle visited Funatsu at his office in 1918, he saw and admired a series of the [inaudible] restorations of cherry trees hung on the wall of Funatsu's office. The [inaudible] we present is the variety of the cherry trees that grew along the Arakawa River embankment. In 1921, almost 3 years after Dr. Swingle visited Funatsu, Funatsu sent Swingle a set of illustrations of cherry trees in the 1912 gift that can be considered both scientific documentation and fine art. Dr. Swingle gave these illustrations to the library likely around 1923, when Dr. Swingle and Herbert Putnam, the librarian of congress then, had a close relationship. Here, shows a set of 11 illustrations, which Dr. Swingle donated to the library. Whoa, did I say Funatsu selected 12 varieties? Yes, I did. Why does the set of the illustrations include only 11? Honestly, we do not know the reason. However, a possible reason is that one of the 12 varieties was extremely similar to another one, and therefore, the US combined these two as one kind. Even taking a glance at these illustrations, you can easily tell differences. Some are very fluffy and look heavy, but some look very fragile and slender. Some are very pink, some are light pink, some are white-ish, and some are very snow white or almost pale. You see how each variety looks like by comparing the illustrations with the photos. Colors are difficult to properly describe because petals are not simply in one color. As you see in the photo on the very right, the age of the petals is very pink but white in the center. Also, descriptions of the colors vary depending on person. On the other hand, you can recognize a wide range of color, even just comparing these 6 varieties. Here is another comparison. Again, colors are very different. If you see the photo on the very right, you may not recognize that this is a cherry tree because petals look green. Also, I will be showing closeups of each varieties later on. I will first analyze these 11 varieties by one, layer of the petals; two, colors; and three, fragrance. Whether petals are single-layered or multi-layered is one of the ways that you can observe cherry trees. Single-layered ones are more fragile. Their petals could be blown away if a heavy rain falls or a strong wind blows. The illustrations marked with blue are single-layered, and with green are multi-layered. Multi-layered one last much longer than those in single layer. Second, colors. Again, it's very difficult to describe colors, however, I divided into four categories: dark pink, pink, light pink, and white. Four of the eleven varieties are dark pink, which you can easily find from these illustrations. Three with [inaudible] are pink, so you can see top left, second from the right on the top, and second from the left at the bottom. Another three with a little star mark can be described light pink, so top one center two, and second from the right at the bottom. And the bottom one on the very right is very white, almost pale. Third, fragrance. Among the eleven varieties, there are only three trees with fragrance. Some with very light fragrance, while some are very deep fragrance. [inaudible] by that, there is one more variety. I said twelve, but we are missing one drawing. In addition to these 11, which is also with fragrance. So in total, four of twelve varieties were with fragrance. This slide shows combination of three factors I have talked about, petal layers, colors, and fragrance. You see some of them are categorized as the same combination, multi-layered petals with dark pink or single-layered petal in light pink color with fragrance. Let's take a look. So three varieties with red-dotted circle are featured at multi-layered petals with deep pink color. Here are their enlarged images. If you look closely, the one on the left has more layers than other two. Petal color is also much darker pink than other two. If you see one in the middle, blossoms are facing up, while other two are facing down. The one on the right has dark pink along the edge of the petals and each blossom is hanging down. These details bring different appearance and atmosphere when they blossom. Another comparison. So feature of two varieties with red-dotted circle are single-layered and light pink color petals with fragrance. Again, I am showing their enlarged images, here. These two are differentiated by the directions which the blossoms face. One on the left are facing side, while the other on the right are facing upwards. Small difference, but this is exactly the outcome of Funatsu's long term study of cherry trees at the Arakawa River embankment. Form here, I am going through each variety with more details. The one on your left is called Somei Yoshino, the most popular variety. The name combines two place's names, Yoshino Mountain in [inaudible], which is famous for its cherry blossoms, and Somei, a place in [inaudible], nowadays [inaudible] in Tokyo where the trees were often grown. This first grown variety is suitable for planting along avenues or in parks. Somei Yoshino's petals are single layered in pink color, very beautiful but fragile. Once wind blows, most of the petals are blown away. We call it [inaudible], cherry blossom [inaudible] English. After petals are fallen on the ground, Japanese describe it as cherry blossom carpet or pink carpet. The one in the middle, called Kwan-zan is another popular variety, with multi-layered petals with deep pink color. Because petals are heavily layered, it brings a bulky but gorgeous appearance. The one on your right is called Takinioi. A literal translation is cascade fragrance. Single-layered petals with very light pink color, almost white, with very light fragrance like a misty cascade. If you compare the color of Takinioi with that of Somei Yoshino, you can see the difference. Somei Yoshino is a little bit pinker than Tainioi, as seen along the tips of the buds of Somei Yoshino. 1800 Somie Yoshino, 350 Kwan-zan, and 100 Takinioi were included in the 1912 gift. All of these three varieties survived the repeated floods around the Tidal Basin in the 1930s. Next batch is these three, Shirayuki, Ariake, and Mikuruma-gaeshi. Shirayuki on your left means 'white snow' in Japanese. You know the story Snow White? We call it in Japanese way, 'Princess Shirayuki'. Dr. Miyoshi, a professor at the Imperial University of Tokyo and an expert on ornamental cherry trees whom I mentioned in the former slide, named this variety for the blossoms [inaudible] -- I'm sorry, resemblance to snowflakes. Petals are single-layered, color is very light pink, almost white. Ariake, in the middle, which is translated as daybreak, features pink petals with deeper pink at the edges. It has a strong fragrance. The one on your right is called Mikuruma-gaeshi. Mikuruma refers to a vehicle used to transport important dignitaries and the courtiers. The name of this variety can be interpreted in different ways. It may be intended to invoke a passenger in such a vehicle who is viewing the beautiful cherry blossoms, felt compelled to return and admire them again. Literal translation of Mikuruma-gaeshi is 'cart turning back'. Mikuruma-gaeshi's petals are single-layered, color is deeper pink. The 1912 gift included 130 Shirayuki, 100 Ariake, and only 20 Mikuruma-gaeshi. The variety you see on the left is called Fukurokuju. Fukurokuju is the god of longevity, and one of the seven deities of good fortune in Japanese mythology. US First Lady Helen Taft, who loved cherry blossoms, arranged for 19 Fukurokuju cherry trees to be planted near the White House ground prior to the 1912 gift. Fukurokuju is a multi-layered variety with deep pink color. Ichiyo, in the middle, is also a multi-layered variety with very large blossoms. The outer petals are pink, while the interior is white. Literal translation of Ichiyo is 'single leaf'. Origin of the name comes from its stamens, visible in the center of the flowers, which are leaf shaped. Fugenzo is shown on your right. The name of this variety refers to [inaudible], who is often depicted riding a white elephant. This variety existed as early as circa 1555. Bulky blossoms are hung down, as seen in the illustration. 50 Fukurokuju, 160 Ichiyo, and 120 Fugenzo were included in the 1912 gift. The last two varieties are Jonioi and Gyoiko. Jonioi, which is literally translated as 'upper fragrance', is one of the three varieties which have a fragrance. Whereas the flower are similar to those of Takinioi, Jonioi blossom face upwards, as I mentioned, while those of Takinioi turn to the side. Petals are single layered with pink color. Gyoiko is very distinctive because its petals are pale, almost green-ish. Actually, the petal color gradually shift from green to yellow, and finally from deep red at the center, as the photo on your right shows. Gyoiko is translated as '[inaudible] yellow'. In the 1912 gift, 18 Jonioi and 20 Gyoiko were included. The Gyoiko were all planted on the White House ground. Back to 2012, when we celebrated the hundredth anniversary of the cherry blossom tree gift, I had a chance to meet with a couple scholars from Japan with expertise in cherry blossom studies. At that time, they said over 650 varieties of cherry blossom trees can be found in Japan, and that it is almost impossible to differentiate one from another, unless they are traditional trees or looked after under special care. These four cherry blossom varieties shown in the slide stand on the ground of the National Arboretum in Washington DC. Names often represent features of the blossoms, like Taihaku on the top left, which is literally translated as 'big white', which means thoroughly white. Last but not least, I must introduce two Somei Yoshino trees which were transplanted on the library's ground from the Tidal Basin in 1922. Photos shown here, are taken by Katherine, who was luckily working on site on the day when our trees were in full blossom this year. This old lady tree has been on a crutch, as you see on the picture, showing her age, but her blossoms are so beautiful, and we truly enjoy them every spring. Joy of cherry blossom viewing is what we encounter every spring. Hope my presentation has added more joy and excitement to your observation of cherry blossoms when you explore the city in the upcoming springs. This presentation today was the first of the three-night series of the 2022 National Cherry Blossom Festival object lessons. We will be talking about the man in the left picture tomorrow, and present seasonal appreciations in Japanese visual art on Friday. If you are interested but have not registered to these other two presentations, please do so via the links shown in the chat. This concludes my -- today's talk. Before moving to Q and A, we have some quick housekeeping. Although we'll be answering all of your questions, you may also send your questions any time after the presentation through Ask a Librarian. If you wish to explore our collections more, you may visit prints and photographs division online catalog. We would also appreciate it if you would feel out a survey which will pop up when you click on the red 'leave' button when you exit from the presentation. Your input will help us develop future programs. You will also see the link to our tours and orientation page in chat, which is regularly updated. Our next webinar will be held at noon on April twelfth in honor of Deaf History Month. It will showcase collection images of deaf people, notable figures, education, careers, and activities. So finally, let's move to the Q and A session. Katherine, do you see any Q and As? >> I do. The first question is what are the names of cherry trees that blossom after the Yoshino and Kwan-zan trees? >> It is difficult. I do know as a matter of fact, that Somei comes first, and count them [inaudible], but I honestly, I am not sure right after that. But for instance, I just checked the fragrance one, but not the [inaudible] or anything else. We're missing one that we do know [inaudible] restorations. [inaudible] is actually lasting, and then probably, you know, much after so many Yoshino and the Kwan-zan. But it may not be really right after. >> I'm remembering that we saw the Gyoiko at the US Botanical Gardens, but I think that the Kwan-zan were blooming at the same time. Is that your memory, too? >> I am not fully sure, but you know, when we visited National Arboretum together, multiple trees are blossoming right at that time. >> Right. Right. Right. >> So I think that -- what I can be sure to tell is that Funatsu's selection, of course, you know, he paid attention to the time period, how long each blossom lasts and they'll not blossom all together. So that's only thing I can tell for sure that, you know, not everything blossoms together. Somei Yoshino, Kwan-zan, and then sometimes, if it weather is really nice and warm, even Somei Yoshino and Kwan-zan blossom together. But the reason why Kwan-zan lasts longer and it seems like, you know, Somei comes first and the Kwan-zan second is just like a, you know, Kwan-zan lasts longer. >> Great. And the second question, which you answered, are which trees have fragrance? >> Yes. We have answered that, [inaudible] Takinioi, and Ariake. >> Ariake. And then what -- here's a wonderful question. What is your personal favorite type of cherry blossom? Can you choose? >> I confess that until I started looking at these eleven varieties, even though I was born and grew up in Tokyo, Japan, I confess I never paid attention to the cherry blossom varieties closely. That's actually the kind of reason that I wanted to show and make this presentation to everybody, because you know, we enjoy, and we enjoy the colors. And then most of the people might have not known, even, the cherry blossoms, some of them have fragrance. Right? So I would say Somei Yoshino because it's really kind of fragility, and pink color, and then I have to tell that Katherine probably would tell on the third night that cherry blossom really means a lot to Japanese people because usually, you know, start blossoming towards the end of the fiscal or academic year, when we say goodbye to the student or friends. And you know, that's a kind of sad moment, say bye to the good friends, and then April 1, we start a new academic year meeting with or resume the friendship again. That's the excitement. But this -- so [inaudible] kind of represents that sadness when we say goodbye, but that really bright pink flower color is a cheerful color represent excitement. So I would say Somei Yoshino. >> Wonderful. The next question, again, so I understand there are cherry trees that bloom in the fall, and what are their names? >> Can you repeat that question, again? >> Yes. I understand there are cherry trees that bloom in the fall, and what are their names? I don't know. >> I actually do not know. I actually have never heard that cherry blossoms blossom during the fall. >> We'll have to do some research. >> We must have -- but again, we are talking about northern part of the globe. >> Right. Right. Right. Oh, and here -- so do you have any prints and photographs of weeping cherries in the prints and photographs division? We definitely do. >> Yeah. Especially in the [inaudible], and that person that asked the question definitely need to join our [inaudible]. >> And also, if you will send the -- if you just -- it's very quick and easy. If you use our Ask a Librarian service and give us that question, then we'll send you lots of beautiful results and images back. >> Right. >> Let's see. Let's see. Let's see. Would you please say something about grafting trees? >> Oh my God, I am not a scientist. So as far as I know -- if there are any scientists or somebody that can just jump in and tell -- but you know, there's a like a little segment and everybody knows what the grafting means, I believe. But you know, exactly how to do it, I do not know. But [inaudible] Funatsu took out from the plant, original plant, in the Arakawa embankment, and there is a way that they have to be carefully picked up because depending on how they cut off that piece will die, of course, and have to put into the body of the tree, and then [inaudible]. But I don't think I'm answering to any like, specific correct answers. But if you do this, nowadays we sometimes say Google, or you can probably see how you can or how generally cherry blossom trees are grafted. >> Great. Here's another one. Did you and your family go to Sakura Zen Zen when you were growing up in Japan? >> Sakura Zen Zen, you mean? Well, Sakura Zen Zen moves around. I have to know a little bit of the question. Well, Sakura Zen Zen means that we have a kind of [inaudible] and move it from the southern part to the northern part, and then I never followed it. But my parents are from the northern part of Japan originally, so occasionally, if I see the cherry blossom in Tokyo, where I grew up in April, and in [inaudible] where my parents are from, cherry blossom usually blossom in late May or June, so I could see both places. >> And here is -- oh, this is wonderful. President Taft was a native of Cincinnati, and we have cherry blossoms in -- forgive me if I butcher this Ault Park in Cincinnati by the Japan Society of Greater Cincinnati every year if the weather is good, so sharing something. >> Oh, that's wonderful. And then nowadays, that even in Washington DC, National Cherry Blossom Festival has been making -- every year, they are planting more and more trees, and I did not go farther down, but when Japan had a crisis to just original trees that we actually sent back some portions of the original tree back to Japan. And then also, you know, some went up to New York. So New York, late March, I happened to be in the New York area and the newscaster was [inaudible] that well, New York cherry blossom will become full blossom pretty soon. And of course, [inaudible] cherry blossom are very famous, but they don't last long. But New York cherry blossom last about a month. I thought it's not a competition, but you know, it's -- everybody is enjoying, so please enjoy your area's cherry blossoms. And help us to preserve, to not cut off or do not break any, you know, cherry blossoms, even do not take the flowers. Just enjoy, admire, and then try to preserve, please. >> And we have an answer for the fall blooming cherry -- I think I will put this in the chat. >> Oh, great. >> Yeah. And I also was able to add to the chat at least one example from the Asian division of a beautiful weeping cherry tree. >> Katherine, do you know the name, the one which blossoms during the -- >> Higan cherry. >> Oh, Higan cherry. Okay. >> Yeah, and -- >> So -- >> [inaudible] variety [inaudible]. That makes perfect sense. Thank you. >> You may remember, I'm sorry to talk to Katherine, but Higan [inaudible], do you remember, you would be talking about on Friday? So Higan means that sometimes that during the fall or so that we have celebration of those things, special time, Higan. Yes. >> Yeah. So thank you for promoting, and tomorrow -- did you mention the program tomorrow, also, what you'll be talking about Mari? >> Yes. I don't want to give all the clues, but I will be talking about the person, the man who contributed to the US-Japan friendship and peace. And we will -- please join, because there is a special guest tomorrow. >> And I see one more question in the Q and A, what's the age of the oldest cherry blossom tree in Japan? >> I don't know. >> That is noble, but I don't have it at the tip of my tongue, either. There was a question in the chat that came with a Sakura emoji and a smile. Where can I get a cherry blossom sticker? >> Oh, you mean National Cherry Blossom Sticker? >> I imagine that's what -- >> I believe they are selling it on the website. >> Yeah, I think it's the National Cherry Blossom Festival folks that does -- I love it when the city is covered with those, with those decals. >> Right. And if you visit the National -- I'm not advertising it, but if you wish to purchase [inaudible], I think they are selling it -- we call cherry blossom decal. >> And that seems to bring us to the end. Thank you so much. Great questions. Okay. And the answers, thank you for the help with Higan cherry. >> Last moment if you have any questions. >> Katherine and Mari, this is Eliza. There are a couple of questions in the chat that I see, one is about seeing cherry blossom trees blossoming in Paris, and if Mari might know any history about the Paris cherry blossom trees. Were they a gift from Japan? >> I do not know the cherry blossom trees in Paris, however, there's a great book -- not the Paris, the cherry blossom in England, and I don't remember off the top of my head but Katherine, do you remember that author? >> Yeah. So -- yeah. We listened to her wonderful talk. I can get that for you quickly, I think. >> Yeah. Yeah, while you are answering to other questions. >> Her name is Naoko Abe, A-B-E, and the book is called The Sakura Obsession is the name of the book. >> Oh yeah, that's right. So sorry that I am not familiar with anything about the cherry blossom trees in Paris. I don't even know if Japan made an arrangement as a friendship to give the trees to Paris. I am not aware of that. >> Naoko Abe's book is about an Englishman Collingwood Cherry Ingram. So the subtitle is the incredible story of the plant hunter who saved Japan's cherry blossoms. It's a wonderful story. >> Yeah, it was. Eliza, do you see any other questions in chat? >> Nope, that was the only one unanswered. >> Okay. >> We have someone who's waiting for Kwan-zan to bloom, and we are, too. >> So again, if you have any questions, even after the presentation, you may send it via Ask a Librarian, and then please look through our website for the future programs, and if you visit PPOC that you receive more materials, and of course, our book. We appreciate if you read through that. You will gain more and more about the cherry blossom tree gift, and the cherry blossoms, and Japanese culture, Japanese art, and you know, everything is in there. And we did a [inaudible] that will give you another day of understanding, too. So thank you again for joining today's presentation, and I hope to see you again tomorrow and the day after tomorrow evening. Thank you so much! [ Music ]