Constantine Vaporis, director of the Asian studies program and professor of history, is a consultant and writer for a new exhibit at the National Geographic Museum entitled “Samurai: The Warrior Transformed,” which opens March 7 and runs through September 3. The exhibition was planned to coincide with and D.C.’s annual National Cherry Blossom Festival, which this year marks the 100th anniversary of the gift of 3,000 cherry trees to Washington, D.C. by the government of Japan In the video below, Vaporis answers the question, “What do samurai have to do with cherry blossoms?” [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUCayZlvvdU&w=560&h=315]