The Japan American Society of Alabama (JASA) Cherry Blossom Festival was held at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens on March 21st and included martial arts demonstrations, tea ceremony, and other Japanese cultural-related exhibits and booths.

    The Consulate-General of Japan presented its own booth which included a variety of information on Japan and displays of annual events in Japan. The three young cherry trees that were given by Japan to the Gardens in 2012 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the gift of cherry trees from Japan to the United States continue to grow and thrive.