April 17, 2009, Fukuoka – The town of Minami-Aso in Kumamoto and the Japan Cherry Blossom Association donated to the United States Government several cherry blossom trees to commemorate the inauguration of President Obama. Although the town wanted to give the trees to the White House as a way to congratulate President Obama for his inauguration, prohibitions on the import of agricultural products made sending these trees to the United States extremely difficult. A decision was made that the U.S. Consulate in Fukuoka would receive the trees on behalf of the United States Government.

A cherry planting ceremony was held on the Consulate grounds involving Mayor Toshiya Nagano of Minami-Aso town, Mr. Sadaharu Nagano of the Japan Cherry Blossom Association, and Principal Officer Carrington. At the ceremony, Principal Officer Carrington highlighted that the generous gift will be long remembered and will help further cement U.S.-Japan friendship. A plaque in front of one of the planted trees acknowledges this generous gift "to the people of the United States."