arts
MeMphis Botanic Garden celeBration Honoring 100th Anniversary of the Gift of Cherry Trees from Japan TexT by KrisTen Waddell
The Memphis Botanic Garden recently held a Japanese Bon Festival to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the gift of cherry trees from Japan to Washington D.C. The festival served as a gesture of thanks for the gift of Tidal Basin cherry trees and to celebrate the friendship between the two nations. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the historic cherry tree planting in Washington, D.C. Former U.S. first lady Helen Herron Taft and Japanese ambassador's wife Viscountess Chinda planted the first two cherry trees March 27, 1912. The trees were gifts to from Japan as a living symbol of friendship between the two cultures. Memphis’ counterpart, two stately rows of cherry trees along Cherry Road adjacent to the Memphis Botanic Garden’s entrance, has become a recognizable landmark and popular spring destination for residents and tourists alike.
Three direct descendants of the Tidal Basin trees in Washington were planted in the Japanese Garden as the featured program to honor the gift of the cherry trees. The reception included an Ikebana exhibit, performances by renowned Japanese cultural performer Masaji Terasawa, Yuki Maguire, Stax Music Acadamy students and Fushu Daiko Taiko drummers along with dinner catered by Sekisui restaurant. During a sunset tour of the Japanese Garden by candlelight, guests wrote messages to be placed on floating lanterns, an idea based on the Japanese tradition of sending lanterns down the river during the bon season to honor deceased loved ones and to pray for peace.
The Botanic Garden concluded the festival with Japanese Bon Festival Family Day. This public celebration allowed guests to explore the history, culture and people of Japan with demonstrations on tea ceremonies, origami, chopsticks, kimono dressing, koi ponds, The festival began with a school visit where performances by Candyman and Fushu Daiko more than 500 local students explored the Taiko drummers, children’s games, a Japanese Japanese culture through live performances and marketplace and Sekisui concessions. cultural demonstrations including Japanese garden tours, chopstick lessons, tea ceremony “Our hope is that these plantings at Memphis demonstrations, Kamishibai storytelling Botanic Garden and throughout the city of and hands-on crafts such as leaf pounding Memphis will serve as a symbol of the friendship bookmarks, origami, haiku writing and more. between the two cultures,” says Jim Duncan, 50 | At Home Tennessee • October 2012
executive director of the Memphis Botanic Garden. “Our continued relationship with the members of JAST (Japan America Society of Tennessee), University of Memphis Japanese Culture Club and the Japanese Consulate’s Office allowed us to offer a top-class event with an even larger crowd than ever before.” The Memphis Botanic Garden, JAST and the University of Memphis have come together over the past five years and forged a strong relationship with the Japanese community by creating and programming events that introduce and celebrate the Japanese culture to the Memphis community. Events such as Candlelight Tour and continuing programs including the Way of Tea in Tennessee bridge the two cultures. These collaborations have increased the visibility of the Japanese community and opened up the Memphis Botanic Garden to a growing number of people interested in these cultural events in the MidSouth.