PlantingCeremony

1999

Revive Time・Kaki Tree ProjectINDEX
06 MarUpdated in 2020

Kingswood Family Adventures (Former The Earth Centre)
Doncaster, England

10 MarMuseum Jean LurçatAngers, France

13 MarOsorio Farm
Gran Canaria, Spain

13 MarAkabane Nature Park
Kita-ku, Tokyo, Japan

21 MarCistude Nature Park
Bordeaux, France

24 MarStade Municipal
Epinay, France

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 1999 Planting Ceremony

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Kingswood Family Adventures(Former The Earth Centre)
UKDoncaster6 Mar 1999

The earth centre in Englandinquired about the project in1997. They saw Miyajima’sexhibition in which they
were informed about thekaki tree project in London
and applied for it. The earth
centre was still under contemplation to build

London and many opinions were exchanged

at Doncaster in England. They were going toby sending faxes through two years until thebuild Children’s forest inside of a theme park

centre was built.

that provides a chance to watch nature. Ms.
Susanna Robinson, who was the staff of theFinally, on 6th March 1999, the kaki tree

earth centre project and applied for the kaki

was planted at the Earth Centre. Mr. Terrytree project, understood the meaning of theGifford, a poet, held the performance byproject well. She proposed some plans toreading aloud the poet with rhythm of themake children concerned about kaki trees.

rap with children and citizens who gathered

For insistence, organizing a tour to see thefor the ceremony. They recited his poetry alltree and talk about the how and why the

together by following Mr. Gifford said “kakitree comes from among the participants aftertree”, ”kaki tree”, “Growing up the kaki tree”

planting the kaki tree. A lot of discussions

with swinging. However the content of thewith members of the committee were held in

poetry was serious, pleading the significanceof raising the kaki tree by them, children
loved to participate in the performance
because of the unique style of the rap.
Although the day they planted the kaki tree
was so cold, children who read the poetry
loudly while swinging warmed up the planting
ceremony.
The Earth Center was closed in 2010.

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 1999 Planting Ceremony1

Museum Jean Lurçat
FranceAngers
10 Mar 1999

In 1998, Ms. Miho Cibot who was living in

who sang the song told about the song

Paris and presides the Nagasaki Hiroshimaand Bombed Kaki Tree Jr. in the video ofhydrogen bomb research institution

interview by Miyajima shot at the museum.

sympathized with the kaki tree project andapplied for it. Because of her passionate

But unfortunately, planting at Saint-Denis

action, Anger and Saint-Denis in French

was cancelled because of the schedule.

applied to plant kaki trees and four trees were

When the staffs from Japan were going tosent to French.

bring back two trees to Japan, Ms. Cibot
asked to hold them and said she was goingOn 10th March 1999, two kaki trees wereto find the new place to plant that. Then,

planted at the yard of Museum Jean Lurcat

Miyajima and Dr.Ebinuma left French without

in Angers. Meanwhile, Aa artist, Lurcat’s

two kaki trees. Right after they got back totapestry named “The song of the world”

Japan, Epinay was decided to plant kaki treesthat belongs the museum was exhibited inbecause of Ms.Cibot’s efford.

Japan including Hiroshima until May in thatyear. The city government organized planting

In 24th March 1999, trees were plantedtrees as a chance of education for citizens.

the side of the city stadium. There were

At the planting ceremony, children fromposters put on the wall in the venue. And thethe city-public music school sang the song

workshop that participants fold cranes with“Everyone’s Kakki” in French. This song was

Origami in Festival for citizens. Unfortunately,

made when Dr.Ebinuma planted a kaki tree

on that day, NATO started airstrikes toat Kawabira elementary school in Nagasaki

Kosovo. Children fold cranes with pray for

before the kaki tree project started. Thosethe world peace.

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 1999 Planting Ceremony2

Osorio Farm
SpainGran Canaria
13 Mar 1999

Mr. Guillermo Lorenzo set
the theme, “good things”
and “bad things”, for
his workshop with older
students. They discussed
and wrote down about “GoodMr. Rodriguez who was born in Canariathings” and “Bad things” on each paper. Then

Islands saw the website of the Kaki Tree

they made candles by mixing the torn paper

Project and send a letter “However I live inof “Good things” and burned papers of “BadLondon now, I want to have kaki trees in mythings”. Students thought about those things

hometown, Canaria.”After that, the number

so seriously to write down. They gave thatof people who support for kaki tree project

candles to Japanese children in Akabane whoincreased by his effort. And finally, it isalso had a planting ceremony on same day.

decided to hold the planting ceremony as ancity event.

It was great to have the project involved
to such way to expression and remains inThus, in 3rd March 1999 the kaki tree werechildren’s heart.

planted at Finca de Osorio. Over the generation,both children and adults participated to plant
trees with holding shovels.
The artists held the two workshops. Mr. Jose
Luis Lusardo made a big drawing of kaki treewith students’s handprints at the workshop.
They enjoyed drawing to put colorful paints
on their hands.

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 1999 Planting Ceremony

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Akabane Nature ParkJapan
Kita-ku, Tokyo
13 Mar 1999

Akabane Nature Park in the Kita district

volunteers from the Persimmon Tree actionof Tokyo is the site of a former militarycommittee, the planting ceremony came offfactory. Utilizing a piece of land with thatwithout a hitch.

sort of history, the Kita district took a uniqueapproach by having local residents participate

At a workshop held that day entitled, “Thein creating the park.

Persimmon Tree Story“, participants enjoyeda lecture on the tress and wilderness by tree

In 1996, when second-generation persimmon

surgeon Dr. Nobuo Koike. Next, children used

trees from World War II atomic bombings

crayons and paints to make pictures to send

were first exhibited (“Water Ripples ‘95”

to the Canaria Islands in Spain, where another

Watari Museum of Contemporary Art, Septtree-planting event was taking place that

2– Oct 1), and the Kita district learned thatsame day. The paper used for the pictures

they were up for adoption, the trees were

was recycled from things like milk cartons,

gladly afforded space in the park. The parkand provided by the members of Amicus,

was completed in 1999. So three years after

a local citizens group that, among otherthe offer was made, the planting of the trees

activities, manufactures paper. After sending

finally took place on March 13th, 1999.

the pictures to the people of Finca de Osorio
in the Canaria Islands, the Japan side received

As there had been no staff presence

a letter of thanks and candles made in theestablished nearby to oversee tree-planting

Canaria Islands as a symbol of friendship.

at the sight during those three years, somedifficulties did arise when the official tree-

After the tree planting, Ms. Shigeko Taguchi

planting event was actually held. But, throughof the Try Network community groupthe efforts of Mr. Tsuguo Kawai, whoorganized gatherings to tell “the story of thedesigned the landscaping for the park layout,

persimmon trees from the World War II atomic

the opportunity arose to create a tree-plantingbombings”, and Mr. Toyota, also of the Try

event that brought together local residents

Network community group, gave enthusiastic

and children. Working together mainly withpresentations about the trees at periodic
wilderness outings, thus
ensuring that these persimmon
trees had really taken root in
the hearts of the local people,
despite the lack of constantstaff presence nearby.

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 1999 Planting Ceremony

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Cistude NatureFranceBordeaux
21 Mar 1999

Bordeaux is famous for wine. When a kaki tree were planted in Bordeaux,
there was strange nameplate was on that kaki tree. It said, “spare” because
Ms. Chantal Rusell Le Roux, who is an artist working with her theme, nature,brought back a kaki tree which was a backup for the exhibition, “DonaiYanen! Et maintenant!” at Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts in
French, and planted it.
They organized a festival, “KAKI TIME” with their friend and children in
October. With so many events, performance, pray, workshop, concert andthey even made T-shirts for that, many people enjoyed it. Thus, a kaki tree
used to be a backup belongs to Bordeaux. Even after that, Ms Chantal andher daughter, Ms. Nadia worked for the project and got another kaki tree
planted in Bordeaux.

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 1999 Planting Ceremony

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Stade Municipal
FranceL'Épine
24 Mar 1999

In 1998, Ms. Miho Cibot who was living in Paris and presides
the Nagasaki Hiroshima hydrogen bomb research institution
sympathized with the kaki tree project and applied for plantingkaki trees. With some bumps and detours, it’s decided toplant kaki trees in Anger and Epinay and two baby trees
were planted at side of Epinay National Stadium. Postersof the project were put at the venue and the workshop inthat participants folded cranes with origami was held at city
festival. Unfortunately, on that day, NATO started airstrikes toKosovo. Children fold cranes with pray for the world peace.

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 1999 Planting Ceremony

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