Much of the behind-the-scenes diplomatic events linked to the Japanese gifting of the cherry blossom trees to Washington, D.C. in 1912 are relatively unknown according to the March 26, 2010 Washington Post article “Scenes from 2010’s Cherry Blossom Festival, an annual rite of spring in Washington.” By Michael E. Ruane Washington Post Staff Writer. The Art of Peace illustrated biography on Prince Iyesato Tokugawa presents much of this prior history and the behind-the-scenes political details surrounding this Japanese goodwill gesture which point strongly to Prince Tokugawa’s pivotal role in the initial Japanese gifting and its evolution into the National Cherry Blossom Festival in 1935. But instead of taking credit, Prince Tokugawa humbly wished to have this gift be seen coming directly from Japan’s capital city Tokyo to the U.S. capital city Washington, D.C., without himself getting any recognition for this international goodwill gesture. Prince Iyesato Tokugawa (1863-1940) held great influence based on his being both the heir to the last Shogun of Japan, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, a dynasty that ruled for over 260 years, and also based on Prince Tokugawa holding the powerful position of President of Japan’s upper house of congress the House of Peers for thirty years (1903-1933).