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| Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print | | The Tidal Basin in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic) |
Japanese Stone Lantern - Lighting the Way
— National Mall and Memorial Parks —
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By Richard E. Miller, April 16, 2009 | |
| | | 1. "Japanese Stone Lantern - Lighting the Way" Marker | | |
Inscription.
Each year, the National Park Service and the National Council of State Societies conduct the Lantern Lighting Ceremony. The Embassy of Japan appoints a Cherry Blossom Princess for the occasion. As the audience counts down from five, the lantern is lit in an exciting, traditional event that signals the arrival of Spring in the Nation’s Capital.
Originally offered in 1921 to complement Japan’s 1912 gift of flowering cherry trees, this 20-ton, 17th century stone lantern soon fell victim to deteriorating relations between the United States and Japan. For thirty-two more years it stood next to its twin in Tokyo’s Ueno Park, awaiting developments. Tensions erupted on December 7, 1941 after the Japanese military bombed U.S. naval forces at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. When cultural ties, peace, amity and commerce reemerged following World War II, Ambassador Sadao Iguchi of Japan presented the lantern to the city of Washington, D.C. Dedicated on March 30, 1954, the lantern celebrates the centennial of the opening of peaceful relations between the two nations. This 1854 event is also honored by a Washington Monument commemorative stone, a United States Navy Memorial bas-relief, and the Japanese pagoda on the opposite [sic] side of the Tidal Basin.
Anatomy of a Stone Lantern - ishidourou:
A. houju - a sacred | | | | 
By Richard E. Miller, April 16, 2009 | |
| | | 2. "Japanese Stone Lantern - Lighting the Way" Marker | | stone lantern visible in background at edge of the Tidal Basin. | | |
gem.
B. kasa - cherry blossom-adorned hood.
C. hibukuro - fire box with moon phases.
D. chuudai - lotus flower middle base.
E. soa - lantern support.
F. kiso - lantern base.
G. kidan - lantern platform.
(Images provided by the National Park Service, National Capital Region.)
Erected 2009 by National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Location. 38° 53.212′ N, 77° 2.479′ W. Marker is in The Tidal Basin, District of Columbia, in Washington. Marker is on Independence Avenue. Click for map. Marker is in the grass off Independence Avenue, east of West Basin Drive, SW, near the crosswalk west of the Tidal Basin Bridge, on the right when traveling east. Marker is in this post office area: Washington DC 20037, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Japanese Stone Lantern (here, next to this marker); The First Japanese Cherry Trees (here, next to this marker); Japanese Pagoda (within shouting distance of this marker); District of Columbia World War Memorial (about 700 feet away, in a direct line); John Paul Jones Memorial (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named John Paul Jones Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in The Tidal Basin.| | | | 
By Richard E. Miller, April 16, 2009 | |
| | | 3. Japanese Stone Lantern | | |
Also see . . . Wikipedia entry for the National Cherry Blossom Festival. (Submitted on April 6, 2010, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)
Additional keywords. National Cherry Blossom Festival |
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By Richard E. Miller, April 4, 2010 | |
| | | 4. U.S. Senator Jim Webb speaks at the annual lantern lighting ceremony, April 4, 2010 | | To his right sit Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the United States of America Ichiro Fujisaki and his wife. | | |
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By Richard E. Miller, April 4, 2010 | |
| | | 5. Japanese Stone Lantern - Annual Lighting Ceremony during the National Cherry Blossum Festival | | - the Japanese Embassy's Cherry Blossom Princess for 2010 does the honors, April 4, 2010. | | |
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Credits. This page originally submitted on April 28, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,989 times since then. Last updated on April 6, 2010, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 28, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 4, 5. submitted on April 6, 2010, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
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