The Bidens to roll out the red carpet for Japan's Kishida in state dinner: ... trends now

President Joe and Jill Biden will transform the White House into a spring garden - complete with a koi pond and floating lily pads - when they welcome Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife for a state dinner on Wednesday night.

'The State floor will transform into a vibrant spring garden, a place of joy and renewal of hope and growth,' first lady Jill Biden said on Tuesday when she previewed the dinner for journalists. 

Legendary singer Paul Simon will perform for guests after their meal of home cured salmon, rib eye steak and salted caramel pistachio cake with cherry ice cream.

The ice cream is in honor of President Biden. It's his favorite dessert. There will be West Coast wines on the table for Kishida, who's known to have a high tolerance for alcohol. 

The celebration began early. Kishida and his wife Yuko stopped by the White House on Tuesday evening for an informal greeting from the Bidens.

Then the two couples went out to dinner in Washington D.C. at Blacksalt Restaurant, which is known for its seafood.

The real magic happens on Wednesday night. When the 230 guests enter the state floor of the White House, they'll enter on a floor covered in the illusion of a koi pond with floating lily pads adorned with cherry blossoms.  

'I can't wait to see this astounding floor covering just transforms the hall into a river of spring blossom,' Jill Biden admitted. 

Event designer Bryan Rafanelli, who also planned Naomi Biden's White House wedding, came in to help with decor. He came up with idea for the koi pond (although there will be no live fish present).

The illusion of a pond will cover the 80-foot crosshall that connects the East Room, where guests will dine, to the State Dining Room, where Paul Simon will peform. 

'It's beautiful reflective interior photographic,' he said of his design. 'So you really do feel the sensitivity and then in the scale of the room, it will come alive.'

Colorful hydrangeas will be along the walls. On the dinner tables will be arrangements of hydrangeas, sweet peas, and peonies. Silk and glass butterflies will sit among the place sittings.

Some tables will have a green china that is from George W. Bush's presidency while others will have a flower-patterned china from President Lyndon B. Johnson's era. 

The inspiration for the evening was spring in both nations, White House Social Secretary Carlos Elizondo noted. 

'The magic of spring in our lasting friendship. Each detail chosen to create a once in a lifetime experience,' he noted. 

The process of planning a state dinner takes months. Staff gather a few months before the actual date to give the first lady options on decor and food. She makes final decisions.

The food was inspired by the spring season. 

The salad course of salmon, which was cured at the White House, avocados, red grapefruit, watermelon radish, and cucumber was inspired by the California Spring Roll. 

The beef in the second course is from Maryland and the mushrooms are seasonal. Dessert inspired by cherry blossoms in bloom in both countries.

Kishida is the fifth state guest of Biden, who has also hosted leaders of India, Australia, South Korea and France.

Biden is hosting Kishida for the first state visit by a Japanese leader in nine years. 

A state dinner is the highest honor the United States can give an ally. 

The economy and security issues - including countering China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region - is on the agenda. 

Biden is also expected to bring up his opposition to Nippon Steel's planned purchase of U.S. Steel.

Lawmakers from both parties and the powerful United Steelworkers union have expressed opposition to the purchase, for which Nippon is paying $14.1 billion in cash.

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