As Japan gifted Washington D.C. with cherry trees in 1912, offspring of those original trees are being donated to Kentucky and four will be planted at UK. A dedication ceremony will be held for this gift on April 26.

Tsugaru shamisen musicians Oyama x Nitta will present a concert at UK on April 1 as part of the Kentucky Cherry Blossom Festival. Yutaka Oyama and Masahiro Nitta are known for using the Tsugaru shamisen instrument to bring a modern sensibility to ancient, highly percussive folk music sometimes referred to as "Japanese bluegrass."