Since 1948 the National Conference of State Societies has sponsored the NCSS Cherry Blossom Program.  The program is a week long educational and cultural program for young women aged 21-26 which culminates at the end of the week with the crowning of the U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen.  

The week begins with the Stone Lantern Lighting to commemorate the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki, originally from Ise and Mayor of Tokyo, to the city of Washington, DC. The gift and annual celebration honor the lasting friendship between the United States and Japan and the continued close relationship between the two countries.  It took the coordination of many to ensure the arrival of the cherry trees. NCSS in partnership with the National Park Service host this event.

The week long program also includes Congressional Reception, as NCSS was chartered by Congress, visit to the White House, embassy visits, State Department and Arlington Cemetery tours, Women's Empowerment Conference hosted by the alumna, and other cultural and educational programming. Alumna of the program include Senator Murkowki, Senator Moore-Capito and Congresswoman Debbie Dingle.

Young women are selected by their State or Territorial Societies based on their accomplishments in leadership, academics, interest in international relations, world affairs and their civic and community service.

HISTORY of the Cherry Blossom Program

In 1939 the first four Cherry Blossom Queens were selected by the Cherry Blossom Festival Committee of the Washington Board of Trade for the years 1939, 1940, 1941 and 1947.  NCSS started selecting Queens with the random spin of The Wheel of Fortune in 1948. There was no Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC for the years 1942 - 1945 due to World War II and 2020 due to COVID.
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In 1954 the Japanese Stone Lantern was presented to Washington, DC as a gift to commemorate the 100th anniversary of America’s first treaty with Japan. It is lit only once a year during the Cherry Blossom Festival by the Cherry Blossom Princess representing Japan. Standing 8.5 feet tall and weighing approximately 4,000 pounds it was carved nearly four centuries ago to honor the Third Shogun of the Tokugawa period. It stands 50 feet east of the first two cherry blossom trees planted by First Lady Helen Taft and Viscountess Chinda in 1912 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. 

The Mikimoto Pearl Crown, named and created by the famous jewelry company Mikimoto, the official jeweler of the emperor of Japan. He donated the Crown to the U.S. in 1957.  The crown was constructed with over two pounds of gold and has 1,585 pearls personally selected by Mr. Mikimoto and they are set in a frame of 14K gold. The crown has a 6-3/4 inch base that is encircled with a band of ermine. Above the base is a coronet of perfectly matched pearls and delicately crafted gold blossoms, scrolls, and leaves. The most recent appraised value of the crown in 2005 for insurance was $300,000 but in reality the crown is priceless because of its unique design and history. The crown is kept in a bank vault and brought out for one day during the festival.
Jean Marie Lee of Alaska was the first Queen to wear the priceless Mikimoto Pearl Crown in 1957. Because of its weight, the young lady who is crowned Queen will wear the famous piece for a few brief moments while pictures are taken. It is then removed and the Cherry Blossom Queen is given a smaller crown, also a gift from Mikimoto, that is hers to keep forever and ever!

The smaller crown is brought to the U.S. by representatives of the Japan Cherry Blossom Association and the small crown matches the one worn by the Japan Cherry Blossom. Mikimoto also presents necklaces and other jewelry to the nationally selected Cherry Blossom Festival Queen!

In 1963 the alumna association was formed, Pi Alpha Kappa, to allow the alumna to continue to network and support the program.
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In 1972 Cherry Blossom Queen Lynn Armstrong of Massachusetts leads a section of the parade in a brand new Ford Mustang.  About 52 new Mustangs and drivers for state princesses that year were donated by Ford as a new car promotion. Following this the Princesses and Queens have participated by riding floats in the parade ever since.

Cherry Blossom Princesses & Queens Since 1948

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