Oct. 20 - Ambassador and Ms. Roos joined local officials, members of the media, and over 150 elementary schoolchildren in a ceremony to plant an historic cherry tree at the Azabu Primary School in Tokyo on Oct. 19. The cherry tree is believed to be descended from trees planted in the garden of the Ambassador's Residence by former Ambassadors Grew and Reischauer. In his remarks, the Ambassador encouraged the schoolchildren to dedicate themselves to strengthening the enduring friendship between the United States and Japan. As part of the ceremony, the schoolchildren unfurled a banner that read, "Thank you for the cherry blossom tree. We will love and care for it always."