Mayor Anthony Williams joins Japanese Ambassador Ryozo Kato and a host of visitors and friends during the cherry blossom lantern lighting ceremony. The lighting ceremony is held at the site of the first two cherry trees planted by Mrs. William Howard Taft and Viscountess Chinda 92 years ago in 1912. Japan gave the 8-foot tall and 2 1/2-ton stone lantern to the city of Washington, DC in 1954. The stone lantern was first lit in the city of Edo, now called Tokyo, 353 years ago in 1651 to honor the Third Shogun of the Tokugawa Period. During ceremonies, Tomoko Shiokori, the Japan Embassy's cherry blossom princess, lights the festival's 350-year old lantern, as a symbol of friendship.

March Photo Gallery »

*All photographs by Lateef Mangum unless otherwise noted.