KOJO NNAMDIYou're tuned in to The Kojo Nnamdi Show on WAMU 88.5. Welcome. Later in the broadcast a new report says D.C. has the most intensely gentrified neighborhoods in the U.S. But first, the pink and white flowers of the D.C.'s cherry blossom trees have become iconic. But although they have 107-year-old history here, they are not native to the area. Joining us to tell us how they came to Washington is the Japanese Ambassador to the United States, Shinsuke Sugiyama. Mr. Ambassador, thank you so much for joining us.

SHINSUKE SUGIYAMAWell, Kojo Nnamdi, this is really really my privilege and honor to be invited to this rather famous and presumably popular -- and I'm told that this is the 20th anniversary year or something. So I feel very much as an honor to be here to talk about something about cherry blossoms and others.

NNAMDIMr. Ambassador, you have been in current role for one year. But you were also here as first secretary back in the late 1980s and 1990s.

SUGIYAMAThat's exactly true.

NNAMDIHow have you found that the city has changed during the course of that time?

SUGIYAMAWell, there are two sides of the same coin now as is often the case with everything, changed part or unchanged part. If I tried to start speaking about this, you know, cherry blossoms are festivities as you Kojo Nnamdi rightly mentioned at the outset, I'm told that really today 107 years ago, 3,000 small cherry blossom trees were presented by then city Mayor Ozaki. And then following day tomorrow, 107 years ago, then First Lady Taft and then Viscountess Chinda, then wife of the envoy implanted two small trees in the Tidal Basin. That was the beginning. And then, of course, it's been -- some history or something. But, you know, I was here as you rightly said some 30 year ago or something as a young diplomat.

SUGIYAMABut that was a time -- of course, we already had that kind, you know, festivities or something. But, yes, indeed, this is 367 days or something for me and my wife to be in here this time as an envoy and the envoy's wife. But last year immediately two days after when we got into Dallas Airport we were put in the Warner Theater to be on the stage and to say something as an opening ceremony. But, you know -- then I was with my wife together with all two -- three weeks or something. But the one point which I very much would like to say at the outset is that we are so stunned to see how much this grows. And this festival seems to become no longer Japanese Embassy's festival, no longer Japanese society or something. This is really American festivity.

SUGIYAMAAnd I'm told all together through the course of three weeks or something, 1.5 million people gathered together with some Japanese or something drinking (unintelligible) Kirin beer and something. So that was really something to see the friendship between the two, people to people, seems to become this much close.

NNAMDIIn D.C. they signify the start of spring and are a reminder of the friendship that you just mentioned between the two nations. When is cherry blossom season in Japan and what does it signify to the Japanese people?

SUGIYAMAActually the cherry blossom trees are really special for Japanese culture and Japanese society, because it's a kind of international tree. And then it depends which party you're talking about we have rather (unintelligible) from the southern end to the northern, but when it comes to season in Tokyo, it's about to become season. Maybe some time very early of April, depending upon the weather. By the way I found out that my wife and I are very much lucky. Thanks to a very very severe heavy cold winter last year and this year, you know, sometimes it so happens that because of the weather by the time the cherry blossoms festival got started it's already gone. But last year and this year it seems to be that they are coming just in time for these festivities. So we are very lucky.

NNAMDIYeah. The trees have blossomed every spring and they are maintained by the National Park Service to keep them healthy and beautiful. When can we expect peak bloom this year?

SUGIYAMAI'm told by the authority that something like the fifth, the sixth, or seven something of April in the midst of the festival. They're going to be in a full bloom.

NNAMDIHow is cheery blossom season celebrated in Japan?

SUGIYAMAWell, they gather just, you know, seeing the cherry blossom trees and then they just -- some of them sat down on a mat and drinking beer or something and dancing and singing and that's all. In the Tidal Basin there are certainly a bit different kind. But in terms of viewing and enjoying the cherry blossoms trees, Tidal Basin is even bigger. So that's very beautiful. And at the same time when you have your street fest, they dance and drinking beers and something, so the same thing.

NNAMDIIt's like a month long St. Patrick's Day celebration.

SUGIYAMAYeah. That's right. Yes, yes. That's right.

NNAMDIThe Japanese community in D.C. and around the country gets together for the national cherry blossom festival here in D.C. every spring. It lasts for weeks and includes a parade, performances, a street festival, and more. What events are you looking forward to this year?

SUGIYAMAWell, I'm looking forward to everything, but if I say just one thing, based upon last year's experience, it was my first time, so it was my wife, to be put on the 1948 made very beautiful open car of Cadillac in the, you know, motorcade. And, you know, it was our first experience to say hello and waving people and thousands. I think that was Wisconsin -- no, no, no -- the longer street just in front of the Capitol Hill. So that was really really something. To be followed by as I said, the street fest.

NNAMDIThis year there's something in particular that I understand you are looking forward to, a denim exhibit.

SUGIYAMAYes. Actually this year we have some couple of new things, which we tried to introduce. One of which is about indigo thread weave Japanese craftsmanship and American heritage. And today I'm wearing this Sid Mashburn jeans, which is American made, but using Japanese denim. So we are going to have your shows and, you know, exhibition and that sort and try to show the mixture of Japanese made and American jeans.

NNAMDIYeah, because while the United States is known to be the birthplace of blue jeans, traditional Japanese craftsmanship has helped resurrect the classical American blue jean in extraordinary ways in recent history, so that's why today you're wearing denim and I understand you'll probably be wearing them during the exhibit also.

SUGIYAMAWell, I'll do so. Although, my wife had told me repeatedly that, you know, "You're no fit for, honey." But as an envoy I have to do that. So I try.

NNAMDIPlease, tell her that we think you look great in denim.

SUGIYAMAThank you.

NNAMDIThe Japanese Ambassador to the United States is Shinsuke Sugiyama. The national cherry blossom festival began last week featuring events through April 14th. You can find a list of the events we're looking forward to at our website kojoshow.org. And Mr. Ambassador, thank you so much for joining us.

SUGIYAMAThank you very much indeed.

NNAMDIWe're going to take a short break. When we come back, a new report says D.C. has the most intensely gentrified neighborhoods in the U.S. You can start calling about that now, 800-433-8850. But you should also know this is the second day of our spring membership campaign here at WAMU 88.5. So if you'd like to become a member or to renew your membership now you can simply go to wamu.org. It's pretty easy. Or you can call 800-248-8850. That's 800-248-8850 to be a member and you'll find out very shortly a lot more.