U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen visits the governor

On Friday, June 5, Noelle Mary Verhelst, who was crowned the 2015 U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen during the 67th Anniversary of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, paid a courtesy call on Governor Masuzoe.

The festival is held every year in Washington D.C. to commemorate the gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Japan, which were presented to the United States in 1912 as a symbol of friendship between the two countries.

During the meeting, the governor said, “Japan and the United States have a very friendly, good relationship. I hope this relationship will be strengthened further.”

The meeting was also attended by Mamiko Watanabe, who was named the 25th Japan Cherry Blossom Queen at a selection ceremony hosted by the Japan Cherry Blossom Association.