April 3, 1885 ~ Tokyo, Japan

For a long time, Kyoto was the capital of Japan until events in the nineteenth century forced them to retire. Amid the political chaos, the Emperor of Japan chose one city to start anew. That city was Edo. The city was then reborn as Tokyo, inheriting the honorary role of being the national capital of Japan.

Her whimsical atmosphere reminded Washington D.C. of the younger years. D.C. recalled such memories while she and the Japanese capital strolled down the spring path, wearing komon kimonos in navy blue and cherry blossom pink respectively. To be honest, she expected Tokyo to be some sort of ancient figure of great wisdom. After all, Edo was a city that existed hundreds of years before her existence. Much to surprise, Tokyo was the complete opposite of what she imagined. The shy, raven-haired girl was four-and-a-half feet tall with the youth of a cherry blossom in eternal bloom. The perfect word to describe her: kawaii (cute).

For about a week, D.C. stayed at Tokyo's house, helping her catch up to the rest of the world and westernize her for the world stage. It was an experience D.C. would never forget. Thank America for coercing her into coming here. This place was freakin' awesome as he would put it.

"Senpai," Tokyo pointed at the pink branches above them, "aren't they pretty?"

D.C. made a nod of acknowledgement. "Kireina (Beautiful)," she awed at the amazing sight. "These cherry blossoms... They're called sakura, correct?"

"Mm-hm. They usually come into bloom for two to three weeks, so you're really fortunate to witness them."

"I see..." She studied the pink and white blossoms hanging above her and the surrounding people that gathered in the park to marvel at the lovely sight. "Your house is very pretty."

"You think so?" There was a twinkle in her plum colored eyes. "I-I mean, it probably doesn't compare to your house. I bet your home is more gorgeous than mine."

"Uh..." She cringed at the thought of Tokyo visiting her house.

The area around the Potomac River was essentially a smelly swamp full of ogres. Aka politicians. The flood waters would constantly soak the ground, constantly turning the roads into an icky, muddy slush. The summers were especially intolerable. For the flies and mosquitos, it was heaven in their disgusting eyes. The sweating, the itching, and the diseased-ridden filth was so commonplace, it put D.C. to shame. She was supposed to be a city that represented American democracy. In reality, she was a district full of crime and crummy slums that made Mississippi's home look like the Garden of Eden. Seeing Tokyo, a younger capital, keep her house so beautiful and tidy made her a bit envious in a way.

"What is your house like?" Tokyo asked.

"U-Uh..." She quickly composed her thoughts. "It's not like your home, so I doubt you'll be impressed by the sight."

Question marks appeared over her head. "What do you mean by that?"

"Well..." She looked up at the flowering branches above her. "For one, the trees in my home aren't like the trees around here. Most of them were cut down in order to make room for roads and buildings. So, it's really impressive in my opinion to see such beauty this close to your home." She breathed in the fresh, spring air. "... I really am fortunate to see this before I leave." 

"Mm... Perhaps you can take some of my cherry blossom trees with you."

"Really?" D.C. looked back at her in amazement.

"I know we'll be seeing each other more in the years to come. But with our busy schedules, I can't imagine being unable to see cherry blossoms for many years." She blushed. "For a while, I've been thinking. After doing so much for me, I wish to give you something in return. If possible, I wish to give you some of cherry blossom trees. That way, you'll be able to see the cherry blossoms bloom every year."

As much as D.C. wanted to accept her gift, she knew she had to hold herself back. "I wish I can accept your offer. However, I need to ask my boss first."

"That's alright. I'll await your response until then." She softly smiled.

She softly smiled in return. "Domo arigato gozaimasu (Thank you very much)."

A cherry blossom falls between the two women, marking the beginning of their diplomatic friendship.

☆☆☆☆☆

August 30, 1909 ~ Washington D.C., U.S.A.

For a long time, Washington D.C. advocated for the planting of Japanese cherry trees around her home. Many times, she was rebuffed and rarely taken seriously. However, she was steadily gaining support for her request. Like, yeah! Drain the swamp! Make D.C. beautiful again!

Months after sending her letter to Tokyo, informing her of her boss's approval, D.C. received a letter in her mailbox.

Dear Washington D.C.,

I am very happy to receive your approval. The moment I got your message, I went to work to prepare your gift. In honor of my name and the country of Japan, I'll be donating 2,000 cherry blossom trees to your home. When you receive my gift, I hope you accept them and cherish them as a symbol of our blossoming friendship. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to repay for all that you've done for me and the country. I'll await your response until then.

Sincerely, Tokyo

"Holy damn," D.C. muttered in disbelief. "2,000 cherry trees... That's more than enough for a gift." She sighed. "... I shouldn't complain. At the very least, I'm glad I can have cherry blossoms of my own." She smiled to herself.

~ Hetalia! ~

January 28, 1910 ~ Washington D.C., U.S.A.

Washington D.C. sat at her desk, staring blankly at the white sheets of paper in front of her. The pen in her hand refused to move. She was still thinking what to write, what to say to her. But... How can she convey the emotional complexity of the situation without offending her? There was no way to hide the truth. She could soften the blow, but it wouldn't erase what she did. Either way, she needed to inform her about her gift.

She began to write.

Dear Tokyo,

I received your gracious gift. All 2,000 Japanese cherry trees arrived at my house on the first week of the New Year. Thank you very much for sending them. I loved them very much.

She stopped writing for a moment.

... Sadly, much to my regret, a team of botanists discovered the trees were infected with various pests and diseases. These pests and diseases might seem quite small to some. However, they posed a problem in concern to nature itself. Such pests and diseases might grow and populate onto the cherry blossom trees, killing them as a result. Much worse, they might inhabit the flora and fauna in my home, becoming a threat to native ecosystems if they were to go unchecked.

She heaved a heavy sigh.

It was with a heavy heart I was forced, out of precaution and concern for the wildlife, to destroy all 2,000 cherry trees. As proof of what happened, I attached this letter with photos of the infected trees and their burning as proof of what I did... 

The image of the fiery pyre burned in her mind.

Both America and I are deeply saddened to destroy your gift. I understand you worked hard to prepare this gift for me. For that, I'm truly sorry. By no means are my actions against you or your people. To be honest, I'm still in favor of seeing cherry blossoms in my home. They would've been lovely when grown and in full bloom. Unfortunately, my self-interests must be set aside in concern to the balance of nature. To those who were involved in this whole affair, I apologize for wasting your time. Such a mistake will never happen again.

... Your feeling on the matter have always been considered multiple times. This may sadden you, confuse you, anger you, but please, for the love of God, understand I don't have anything against you. Even if it's not possible to plant cherry blossom trees in my home, I still wish to be...

It took D.C. a little longer than most to find the word she wanted to say.

... friends.

Sincerely, Washington D.C.

After letting the ink dry, Washington D.C. placed the letter in an envelope. There was a moment of hesitation prior to leaving the house, second thoughts on adding more to the letter. Such thoughts remained her head after delivering the letter to the Embassy of Japan. She didn't have much of an appetite later that night.

~ Hetalia... ~

February 14, 1912 ~ Washington D.C., U.S.A.

Washington D.C. had long forgotten about the letter until today. Two years later, her answer finally arrived in her mailbox. The guilt came back. She wasn't sure what to expect. She held off from reading the letter, eating first so she wouldn't ruin her appetite. And later that night, before bed, she opened the envelope and read the contents of the letter she was holding.

Dear Washington D.C.,

After reading your letter, I deeply regret sending you those Japanese cherry trees.

She paled. 'Oh crap. She hates me...' Despite the bad feeling in her chest, she continued reading.

How can I be so careless. I've spent much of my time preparing all 2,000 cherry trees, tending to their needs and making sure they would survive a month's trip to your home. Hoping to hear good news from you knowing anything can go wrong, how foolish of me. I'm truly saddened to have sent you those cherry trees. Never will I let this happen again...

'I screwed up didn't I...' She gulped.

Having for a long time consider your actions as well as mine, I've finally made a decision... to send 3,020 cherry trees to your home.

'... What? Hang on.' She reread the letter, making sure she didn't read it wrong.

Gomenasai (I'm sorry)! What you did was necessary to protect your home. If I was in your situation, I would've probably done the same thing. No doubt that was a difficult choice to make. But please, don't blame yourself. If anything, this was my fault. Watashi wo yurusite (Please forgive me)!

The letter of your boss's approval made me a bit excited. I was desperate to please you. I wanted to send you the cherry trees as soon as possible. Indeed, I worked hard to prepare all 2,000 cherry trees, but I was extremely careless. I should've inspected the cherry trees prior to sending them to you. If I did, I wouldn't have wasted everyone's time or forced you into making a hard decision. Again. Gomenasai! Watashi wo yurusite!

She noticed a couple of dark spots on the paper. 'Are these... tear marks?'

It was never my intention to make you feel bad or make fun of you, nor was it my intention to harm your ecosystems. I vowed to send you cherry trees the day your beautiful, blue gaze witnessed such fleeting beauty. The way you smiled made me smile. To hear you confess, opening your most private feelings, with such trust in me, you opened the steel cage and brought out a stirring warmth in my heart. It gave me the strength, the bravery of a thousand warriors, to interact with others without secluding myself in fear. It was because of you and America, Japan and I were able to stand as a world power.

Even though my first gift was a failure, my vow still stands. Despite my mishaps, I wish to redeem my character and honor my promise. Thus, I'll be sending you a greater gift of 3,020 cherry blossom trees. This time, I'll be sure to inspect every single tree before sending them to you. By then, when you receive them, I hope you can still accept them as a token of our friendship. Until then, I send you my earnest blessings as a fellow capital and friend.

Sincerely, Tokyo

D.C. was at a loss for words. "... Thank Washington's ghost." She breathed a sigh of relief. She could finally sleep peacefully again.

~ Hetalia! ~

March 27, 2012 ~ Washington D.C., U.S.A.

D.C. sat on a rosy pink blanket underneath a cherry blossom tree, drinking a cup of green tea. "... And that was how I got these cherry blossom trees."

Hawaii was eating some dango while listening to D.C.'s story. "So, all these cherry blossom trees were from this day a hundred years ago?" She looked around the crowded, blossoming park.

"Sort of. Some of the trees are the descendants of Tokyo's gift. Others came from another batch of cherry trees Tokyo had given me." She placed a finger on her cheek. "I think it was... 1965 when I got another 3,800 cherry blossom trees from her. ... Yeah. 1965."

"Wow. Tokyo really is generous."

"Quite generous." D.C. sipped her cup of green tea. "She also gave me a 300-year-old stone lantern, a stone pagoda, and a golden Mikimoto Crown made out of over a thousand pearls as an anniversary gift for opening the country up to the United States."

"Cough!" Hawaii nearly choked on her sweet dumpling. "Hold up! She gave you all that from invading her home?!"

"When you put it that way, you make it seem like I'm the bad guy."

"You kinda are," she grumbled, recalling some bad memories.

"Well, to dispel your misperception of our friendship, I did send her a gift in return of her cherry blossom trees."

"What did you give her?"

She sipped her tea. "That's a story for another time."

"... This story is going to be a two-parter, isn't it?"

"Yep."

☆☆☆☆☆

+ Cherry blossom trees are mainly native in temperate regions such as Japan, Korea, China, and India. They're known for producing tiny, pink and white blossoms during the early spring. Such flowers come in many varieties, all of which bloom within a short lifespan of one to three weeks (depending on the variety) before falling off.

- Japan in particular incorporates cherry blossom trees in various parts of their culture. For example, hanami is a centuries-old practice that involves picnicking under a cherry blossom tree. I can list more traditions, but I think most of y'all get the point.

+ American interest for Japanese cherry trees began in the late nineteenth after America 'coerced' Japan into opening up its borders. Many wealthy Americans who visited Japan brought a few cherry tree back to America and planted them around their home. In 1885, Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore, inspired by her trip to Japan, was the first American to suggest the idea of planting cherry blossom trees around Washington D.C. Even though her request was rebuked, the idea began to blossom into popularity in the early 20th century.

- By chance, Jokichi Takamine, a Japanese chemist who notably discovered adrenaline, caught wind of the proposed plans and asked First Lady Helen Herron Taft if she would accept a gift of 2,000 cherry trees from Tokyo. She accepted the offer. All would've went well weren't for the fact many of the 2,000 cherry trees were contaminated with pests and diseases (such an incident inspired the first quarantine laws in the United States). Even though the initial gift was burned and destroyed, Tokyo honorably sent a greater donation of 3,020 cherry trees to the U.S. capital. The second batch was planted around the Tidal Basin and East Potomac Park where most of them remain in the present era.

+ Since the initial planting, the U.S. capital has since hosted the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The festival is held for around three weeks, and it consists of various events such as parade floats and the ceremonial lighting of a 360-year-old Japanese stone lantern.

- Of course, cherry blossom trees aren't exclusive to Washington D.C. within the United States. Many cities have their own gardens and parks full of cherry blossoms in addition to hosting festivities involving their bloom. I recommend checking such places out and witness such beauty before it fades away.

~

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