All Nippon Airways Donates Cherry Trees to the Hilltop
All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan鈥檚 largest airline, donated six cherry trees that were planted on Georgetown鈥檚 campus last week. Situated in front of the Jesuit Residence, the trees will beautify the Hilltop for decades to come.
鈥淲e at Georgetown University are so fortunate to be the recipients of these beautiful gifts,鈥� said Rosario Ceballo, Dean of Georgetown 海角论坛 of Arts & Sciences. 鈥淲e are especially proud that Georgetown鈥檚 campus on the Hilltop will be further linked to the broader DC region and the country of Japan through the planting of these trees.鈥�
Dean Rosario Ceballo speaks to the assembled students and guests.
The history of cherry trees in Washington, DC goes back more than a century. Between 1909 and 1912, the mayor of Tokyo, Yukio Ozaki, facilitated the donation of more than 5,000 cherry trees, which were warmly received by President William Howard Taft and First Lady Helen 鈥淣ellie鈥� Taft. Today, the blossoming cherry trees attract some 1.5 million annual visitors.
鈥淭his shows the special relationship and friendship between the United States and Japan,鈥� said Toshio Nomura, General Manager of The Americas for ANA. 鈥淲e are very much honored to take part in and sponsor this event.鈥�
In recent years, the National Cherry Blossom Festival has worked to plant cherry trees beyond the Tidal Basin, reducing the ecological impact visitors have on the area. The six trees planted on Georgetown鈥檚 campus bring the total number of new trees planted by ANA in the past five years to 100.
鈥淥ur campus is an arboretum of sorts 鈥� we have dozens of species of trees 鈥� and our landscaping has been cultivated to offer a habitat to a wide variety of wildlife, especially butterflies and songbirds,鈥� Dean Ceballo said. 鈥淭hese trees will be a striking new addition to our green spaces.鈥�
Students and faculty had the opportunity to meet with prominent guests to Georgetown鈥檚 campus, including representatives from ANA, the National Cherry Blossom Festival and Mr. Koichi Ai from the Embassy of Japan. While the trees won鈥檛 bloom until spring, their planting brings the promise of a beautiful future.
鈥淏lossoming cherry trees are undeniably graceful and beautiful but at least to many Japanese they also symbolize and evoke Mono no aware (鐗┿伄鍝�銈�), literally 鈥渢he pathos of things,鈥� which includes an awareness of their impermanence or transitory nature,鈥� said , Professor and Chair of . 鈥淚 think we all gain some inkling of this attitude toward the world in the moment when we see the beautiful blossoms carried away by the wind and scattering away.鈥�