On December 6th, members of the Seattle community came together to celebrate the return of cherry trees to the 100 block of Pike Street at the entrance to Pike Place Public Market. The dedication ceremony was lovely and can be seen here: Dec 7th Pike Street Cherry Tree Dedication

Karen Yoshitomi, Executive Director of the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington, reminded us of the fragile and impermanent beauty of life’s opportunities which with the English translation of an 850-year-old poem, which has been translated into English:

Like Cherry blossoms are the lives of those who think they might; for who can tell, but there might be a tempest in the night.

The community was honored by the presence of the Japanese Consul General, Iyori Makoto, at the rededication of cherry trees at this location. In his remarks, he said that the blossoming of Sakura (Japanese Cherry Trees) at the end of the cold, dark, and gloomy Winter mark the beginning of the bright and uplifting Spring. He said these newly planted trees will paint Seattle with splats of pink and bring happiness to thos who behold them. He expressed his hope that this seasonal beauty will remind us of the bonds of friendship and understanding that hold us together today in our diversity and commonality, locally and globally.  

In his comments, Mayor Bruce Harrell expressed his concern for embracing efforts to address climate change, social justice, and diversity. These cherry trees underscore the Oneness of Seattle, our collective resilience, our struggle to overcome impediments and challenges. Seattle is stronger because it is not afraid to talk about our past. Our stories of resilience will make us stronger. In an allusion to the efforts to save the 40-year-old cherry trees that were here last March, the Mayor thanked everyone who provided feedback. Again referencing his “One Seattle” vision he said, “We will always listen to you. We try to make good, data based decisions, but we could make mistakes. We ask for grace. We learn every single day.”

Councilmember Andrew Lewis thanked the members of the community who reached out to him to call attention to the importance of these trees to our history and our community. He applauded the contributions of Cindi Laws, SaveTheMarketEntrance, and members of the community in the effort to save the previous trees and also in the effort to preserve the historic Hahn Building and The Showbox (Seattle Landmarks in danger of demolition). He also acknowledge Seattle’s inherent effort as a multi-cultural community to “putting down roots,” literally with today’s new trees, and figuratively for each new arrival. He held up the status of Kyoto as our first Sister City and the long, not always pretty relationship between the US and Japan. When we make mistakes, we come back, sometimes years later, to ask forgiveness and heal relationships. That’s what we are doing here today. These trees are not just trees. The community made that evident to us when we were planning to replace them with generic street trees that wouldn’t communicate that connection between us all. These new cherry trees will put down roots that support our communities, our cultural and social history that we prize so much and commemorate the long and storied relationship between Seattle and Japan.

Special thanks to Sarah Kraja Wall and Jerry Waugh, STME board members for attending and sharing their photos and impressions.