Planting
Ceremony

2007

Revive Time・Kaki Tree ProjectINDEX
26 Feb

Updated in 2020

Karako Primary School
Higashimatsuyama-shi, Saitama,Japan08 Mar

Karako Central Park
Higashimatsuyama-shi, Saitama,Japan

21 MarCrystal Palace Garden
Porto, Portugal

Sunomata Castle
Ogaki-shi, Gifu,JapanKamiishizu Green Park
Ogaki-shi, Gifu,Japan

Makida Elementary School
Ogaki-shi, Gifu,Japan

Ichinose Elementary School
Ogaki-shi, Gifu,Japan

Tara Elementary School
Ogaki-shi, Gifu,Japan

Toki Elementary School
Ogaki-shi, Gifu,Japan

Asakusahikari Nursery School
Ogaki-shi, Gifu,Japan

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2007 Planting Ceremony

123Karako Primary SchoolJapan
Higashimatsuyama-shi, Saitama
26 Feb 2007

Higashimatsuyama City is actively engaging in

cut from aenvironmental conservation together with local

bamboo grove

residents in projects with the theme “Revitalizationin the “homeof community and nature” such as making a homefor fireflies”

for fireflies. Karako district, where the home forby citizen

fireflies is in place and “Ten no sono (The Gardenvolunteers.

of Heaven),” one of Muraji Uchiki’s children’s
literature, is set in. Karako Primary School with aOn the day ofhistory of more than 130 years, Karako Central

the ceremony,

Park and the Maruki Gallery for the Hiroshima

after talks

Panels are also located in the district, which isgiven by theblessed with the precious resources, so people

principal of

can learn about environment and peace.

the schooland Tatsuo

Mr. Toshihiko Kato who works at the environment

Miyajima andconservation department of Higashimatsuyama

a message delivered by Mr. Ebinuma, presentationcity government watched the tree planting at Haraof the Kaki Furoshiki (Persimmon wrapping cloth)

Museum Arc broadcast in a news program on

took place. Following addresses given by a

NHK in 2005 and that was how he got to know

representative from the municipal government of

the Kaki Tree Project. He learned that children

Higashimatsuyama, artist Ms. Etsuko Maneyama,in the community can directly get involved inMr. Anken Kidani and a representative fromthe project, so he applied for it. Karako Primary

Karako district, the third graders announced

School was chosen as the planting site since it is

the name for the trees “Kakkiko Taro” andnear the Maruki Gallery for the Hiroshima Panels.

“Kakkiko Kuuta.” All the children took turns incovering the trees with soil. Then, the children

The municipal government of Higashimatsuyama

placed the bamboos that they made during theand the third graders of Karako Primary School

workshop surrounding the trees in a semicircle.

took one year for the preparations for welcoming

Pictures drawn on the bamboos were very

the trees. On 8th of February, before the tree

beautiful. Lastly, a message was delivered by theplanting ceremony, a “Delivery workshop” wasrepresentative of the third graders. So the project

conducted at the school by the Maruki Gallery

in which the municipal government, school,

for the Hiroshima Panels and artist Ms. Etsuko

museum and community members work together

Maneyama and children freely drew pictures withhas started and various activities are in progresspersimmon tannin on the bamboos that werein Higashimatsuyama City.

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2007 Planting Ceremony1Karako Central ParkJapan
Higashimatsuyama-shi, Saitama
8 Mar 2007

Karako Central Park, where local people geton behalf

together, was chosen as the planting site asof Karako

well as Karako Primary School.

Primary Schoolannounced thePrior to the tree planting ceremony, all thename for thepupils of Karako Primary School gatheredtree. The tree

in the gym in the morning to listen to theplanted in Karako Central Park is named “Kakitalks by the principal and Mr. Ebinuma. Mr.

Taro.” They named the tree after Momotaro,

Ebinuma and Tatsuo Miyajima also gave

a Japanese folk tale hero, wishing the tree

lectures to local people of Higashimatsuyama

to grow strongly like Momotaro. As children

City at the Karako Community Center.

covered the tree with soil, they said to thetree “Grow well!”Two third grade classes moved to Karako
Central Park and attended the tree planting

Also, children gave presents of origami

ceremony held in the park. Children prepared

persimmon fruits to adults and lastly children

for the ceremony in pairs by placing theof Karako Primay School presented the songbamboos with pictures drawn on them that

“Echo of Peace” , a filk song of “I’ve been

were made during the delivery workshop

Working on the Railroad” with choreography

conducted by the Maruki Gallery for theas a song of celebration. It was a wonderfulHiroshima Panels prior to the ceremony.

ceremony with cheerful voices of children
echoed throughout.

The ceremony started off with an address
made by chairman Suzuki of Heartpia, Karako

Karako Primary School still continues toDistrict Town Development Council.After

conduct workshops related to the project a

the introduction of people involved, a childfew times a year.

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2007 Planting Ceremony

2Crystal Palace Garden
Portugal
Porto
21 Mar 2007

those sessions and took manydays to prepare to welcomethe tree.
On 21st of March, the dayof tree planting ceremony,
The city of Porto, Portugal, has a sister

more than 600 children and local people

city relationship with the city of Nagasaki

attended. Children sang the song called “Asince 1978. As a symbol of the sister cityThousand Cranes.” An address was given byrelationship and to remember the atomic

the mayor and messages from Mr. Ebinuma

bombing as well as to express its solidarity

and the Japanese Embassy in Lisbon werewith the city of Nagasaki, the city of Porto

also introduced. A display of origami works

applied for the project through the Japaneseand pictures made by children ages fromEmbassy in Portugal.

3 to 10 was there at the same time. The
representatives of children who gathered inJardins do Palacio de Cristal, the planting

the vast garden planted the tree by coveringsite, is the biggest garden in the city centerit with soil using a shovel which was about

and surrounded by the Sports Pavilion where

the same length as their height.

concerts and sports games are held, Almeida
Garrett Library and restaurants. The garden

The ceremony was also broadcast on ais crowded with local residents who enjoy

national television network and covered instrolling as looking at beautiful trees in thenewspaper, and thousand origami cranes

city or the lake.

made by those children were later sent to thecity of Nagasaki.

Prior to the tree planting ceremony, aperson who knows how to make origami
taught teachers at elementary schools how
to make origami cranes and then thoseteachers taught their children how to makethose. Kindergarten teachers taught children
about the atomic bomb, peace and the girlnamed Sadako using drama and a shadow
play. Many children at about 10 elementaryschools and 5 kindergartens participated in
Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2007 Planting Ceremony

3