03/12/12 This year marks the 100^th anniversary of the gift of cherry blossom trees from Tokyo to Washington, D.C., celebrating the friendship between the Japanese and American people. Japan’s Ambassador to the U.S., Ichiro Fujisaki held a press conference at the National Press Club on Monday afternoon to explain the planned projects and events for the Cherry Blossom Centennial celebration – including performances by AKB48, the Japanese girl pop group with 57 singers.