Planting
Ceremony

2000

Revive Time・Kaki Tree ProjectINDEX
05 Feb

Updated in 2020

Tsukioka Elementary School
Sanjo-shi, Niigata, Japan

14 Feb

Kobe Municipal School for Blind
Kobe-shi, Hyogo, Japan

14 Feb

Emukai Park
Motomiya-shi, Fukushima, Japan

17 MarScarpa-volo, Mazzorbo Island
Burano,VE, Italy

18 Mar

F.P.Cordenons Middle School
St.Maria di Sala,VE, Italy

18 Mar

Old Church of San Giovanni
Casciago,VA, Italy

21 Mar

St.Giulia Museum
Brescia, BS, Italy

23 MarDebeli Rtic, Red Cross Slovenia
Ankalan, Slovenia

23 MarAnton Ukmar Elementary School
Koper, Slovenia

25 Mar

Sagra Garden
Carpi, MO, Italy

25 Mar

The Courthouse Arts Centre
Tinahely, Ireland

26 MarLevante Park
Cesenatico, FO, Italy

28 MarTrevignano Middle School
Trevignano Romano, RM, Italy

28 MarFranklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Garden
Columbus, Ohio,U.S.A

31 Mar“G.Mazzini” Primary School
Terni, TR, Italy

01 AprYouth Center
Poggibonsi, SI, Italy

01 Apr

San Donato Milanese Town HallSan Donato Milanese, MI, Italy

01 Apr“G.Ungaretti” Middle School
Pordenone, PN, Italy

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INDEX
02 AprUpdated in 2020

Lama Monachile Bridge
Polignano a Mare, BA, Italy

04 AprJungoe Park
Kwangju, Korea

07 AprNapoleonic Garden
Castello,VE, Italy

06 Jun

Leiden Botanical Garden, University of Leiden
Leiden, The Netherlands

25 OctThe Hockaday School
Dallas, U.S.A.

05 Mar

Ogaki Park
Ogaki-shi, Gifu, Japan

06 MarKono Elementary School
Ogaki-shi, Gifu, Japan

Higashi Junior High School
Ogaki-shi, Gifu, Japan

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Tsukioka Elementary SchoolJapan
Sanjo-shi, Niigata
5 Feb 2000

This is the first tree

damaged. The principal reported to us thatplanting in Niigata

all the children were safe and that thePrefecture. Mr.

persimmon tree was not damaged and was

Norio Horikawa,growing nicely.

a contemporary
artist and principal

On October 27, 2010, the 10th anniversaryof the principal'sof tree planting was held on the founding

school, requested

day of the elementary school. The artist

the tree planting as

Norio Horikawa, who was also the principal

an opportunity toof the school at the time, along withlearn about peace

Ebinuma from Nagasaki and Tatsuo Miyajimain response to Sanjo City's declaration of aparticipated in the workshop "Making Origami

nuclear-free city for peace.

Crane" held by Norio Horikawa. After that,exchange activities with the 6th graders

The tree planting was mainly carried out

were conducted. At the end, we sang songsby the 6th graders. On the day of the treearound the lanterns made by the 6th graders

planting, we were blessed with relatively mild

next to the two persimmon trees that grew

weather in Niigata, where there was a lot of

up. The lanterns were lit until night, creatingsnow. Ms. Junko Ebinuma from Nagasaki

a fantastic atmosphere.

came to the event and had a question andanswer session with the children. At the art
event, we sang "Memorial Tree" together.
In spite of the cold weather, the children
planted a Second-generation Bombed Kaki
Tree in good spirits. Later, the organizing
committee members received letters from thechildren describing their thoughts on war andpeace and their kaki trees.
On July 13, 2004, four years after the tree
was planted, the torrential rains that hit
Niigata caused the banks of the Igarashi
River, which runs nearby, to break, andTsukioka Elementary School was severely
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Kobe Municipal
School for BlindJapan
Kobe-shi, Hyogo
14 Feb 2000

Kobe City School for the Blind is a school with a wide rangeof age groups from kindergarten to advanced course. Ms.
Momoko Masuda, who was a teacher and interested in the
kaki tree project, applied for the project. The tree planting
ceremony was held as the main event of the high school's"send-off party for graduates". The participants gathered in2003 Sports Day

the classroom and the tree planting event began. After an
introduction of the committee members, Ms. Junko Ebinuma
explained about the kaki tree and read out a message fromthe tree doctor Ebinuma. Then all the participants moved tothe school grounds to touch and check the kaki trees before
planting them. One representative from each class used alarge shovel to pour dirt on the saplings. At the end of theevent, all participants sang a wonderful song in front of the

5 Year Anniversary

kaki tree. A book was presented by Ms. Junko Ebinuma asa token of her appreciation. At the end, both hands, palms
facing the kaki tree, said "May the kaki tree grow strong andhealthy! and everyone gave a "KI (spirit) " to each other.
After the tree planting, a floor volleyball tournament was heldin the gymnasium, where the ball was rolled around. The
game between current students and alumni was very heated.
The kaki tree is treasured by the high school student council.
On February 14, 2005, exactly five years after the tree
was planted, the students who participated in the 2000
tree planting ceremony were invited to a Kaki Tree Reunion.
At the Kaki Tree Reunion, percussionist Tomonori Oishi
presented a workshop using drums. The participants banged
the drums to the accompaniment of Mr. Oishi's drumming,
making for a powerful concert.

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Emukai Park
Japan
Motomiya-shi, Fukushima
14 Feb 2000

the students sent messages under the themeof "War", "Peace" and "Life". Kaki trees
are planted in Emukai Park near the school,
The town of Motomiya (now the city ofand the whole school takes care of them andMotomiya), located in the western part ofobserves and records their growth.

Fukushima Prefecture. After hearing about the
Kaki Tree Project from a member of the Berlitz

Currently Motomiya City, the area was

Shibuya Language Center, where the exhibition

severely damaged by the 2011 Great East

was held in 1999, Mr.Munehiko Takada who isJapan Earthquake. Temporary housing was

Motomiya Town Board of Education Chairman

built in Emukai Park for many people affected

applied for the Kaki Tree Project.

by the disaster. The area around the kaki
tree was paved and became a parking lot for

The second-generation Bombed Kaki Tree

temporary housing. Despite this situation, thewas planted in the newly completed Emukai

kaki trees here continue to grow vigorously

Park. The people of Motomiya Town had

and bear a lot of fruits.

a desire to plant many trees in this park to
make it into a forest, and they have promoted
tree planting activities with the whole town.
The tree-planting ceremony was held in the
gymnasium of the Motomiya 2nd Junior HighSchool. A huge beam of a kaki tree, madeespecially for this occasion, was displayed in
the gymnasium of Motomiya 2nd Junior HighSchool. The student council took the leadin the preparation of the ceremony and thisbeam drawing was made by the art club. All
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Scarpa-volo, Mazzorbo Island
Italy
Burano, VE
17 Mar 2000

In March 2000, Kaki tree was planted in“B.Galuppi” di Burano, a public farm in
the island Scarpa-volo Mazzorbo, which islocated in Adrian Sea, 30min ship distancefrom Venice.
The planting site was in the grape field in thefarm. It was a big planting ceremony with
450 students from 9 elementary schools
around Venice. It was realized with a few

a concert of Conga by Mr.Fabio. Mr.Junichiteaches from Venice who visited Japan

Shioda, commissioner for the year’s Japan

pavilion in the biennale. Ms.Laura Biondi

pavilion of Venice biennale, and Ms. Atsuko

was one of them and took an initiative. Mr.

Sato from Japan Foundation also participated

Giogio Mastinu organized a kite-flying, Ms.

in the planting ceremony.

Biondi and Ms. Ritsue Mishima learnt children
Origami and coloriage. In a large farm, many

Sadly, according to the staff who visited

workshop programs were organized such as

Burano in June 2003, Kaki tree disappeared.

an exchange with an elementary school in

The mayer of the city confirmed that they

Manchester, a collage on Kaki tree with poem

removed the tree as it was dead because of

written papers, Drawing on folding screen

the alkaline soil.

by Mr. Matteo Bertelli and Mr. Carlo Memo,

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2000 Planting Ceremony

4F.P.Cordenons Middle School
Italy
St.Maria di Sala, VE
18 Mar 2000

Children at

people concerned from the city. At the gym

F.P.Cordenonsof the city, there was a concert by city’s

Middle High

brass band. Participants listened to the music

Schoolby gathering around the band. Students fromparticipatedthe school made a huge drawing of Kakiin a workshop

tree, which represents a wish for the peace.

by Michele

Planting was done under the saxophone music

Drascek andplayed by two junior high school players.

became funof Kaki tree.

Students from IST Mozzoni Art School andAs a result,its professor Mr. Alberto Favaretto appliedwith a strong

for Kaki tree project however they wererecommendation by the children and Ms.
Montella Marina, teacher at the school
who wanted children to think about theimportance of the world’s peace by taking

not selected. However, they participated inplanting ceremonies in Burano an in Santa
Maria di Sala in order to make photography
book and posters.

Kaki tree as a symbol, Santa Maria di Sala
city applied for Kaki tree planting.
They planted two Kaki trees in the yard of
F.P.Cordenons Middle High School. If both
trees grow well, one of two will be planted in
Rodari City Park. Rodari Park is very familiar
to the junior and senior citizens. A lot of
people including the mayor of the city and

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Old Church of San Giovanni
Italy
Casciago, VA
18 Mar 2000

Vicentin, an exhibition at theChiesa Vecchia organized local
people, both adults and children
with local artists, poetry
readings and craft workshops.

The site of Chiesa Vecchia di San Giovanni(Ex San Giovanni church), which was achurch of the middle age, is a located in asmall village on a hill with a view of smalllakes in Varese area.
Ms. Anniva Anzi, president of Parents Teacher
Association at the Manzoni Elementary
School, encountered children of the atomic
bombed Kaki tree at the Japan pavilion in
Venice Biennale and was so impressed that
she took children to the pavilion for a school’s
excursion, and started an activity to invite
local eledery people to talk about the war
for the children. The planting ceremony was
accompanied with several workshops, such as
an installation work “On-Off” by Mr. Georgio

Every spring, they have aplanting anniversary festival, which is an
introduction to a harvest festival scheduled
in 2010. On the day of the festival, thevillage is filled with Kaki tree events. Not only
children but also their parents participate inworkshops and enjoy themselves. As thesecontinuous activities such as creating Kaki
calendars or organizing exhibitions are highly
appreciated in the region, they received“Premio per la pace della Regione Lombardia”(Prize for the peace in Lombardia region) in2008. The 10th anniversaray festival of Kaki
planting is scheduled in March 2010.
In 2012, there was an incident where akaki tree was broken. However, the kaki
tree has been successfully revived andhas continued to grow energetically sincethen. In March 2020, there was a plan forthe 20th anniversary of the tree planting,and the members of the Kaki Tree Project
Executive Committee from Japan was alsoplanning to participate. However, the event
was postponed due to the spread of thecoronavirus in the world.

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St.Giulia Museum
Italy
Brescia, BS
21 Mar 2000

Mr. Dulio Zogno, artist from
Brescia, have longed forplanting of Kaki tree, since heencountered a child of atomic
bombed kaki tree at Japan
pavilion in Venice biennale in1999. He was so enthousiastic
that he asked several time to
the Instituto Giapponese di
Cultura in Roma how to realize.
He proposed to the city of
Brescia, an art studio, photographer Flavio

school students, they planted Kaki tree

Bonetti, artists’ group “Grafo”, architects

according to “Sakura Sakura” song in

Paola Visano and Bernard Vecchi, as well asJapanese by children. After poetry reading

to the youth section of the city’s education

by elementary students, all participants sangboard to have a local executive committee to“ we are the world” together. Lastly, Dulio

realize the planting. They planted the tree at

Zogno, who made this project possible,

St Gulia Museum, which had once been usedpresented a speech about his strong passion

as a monasty for more than 1000 years.

for Kaki Tree. Kaki tree was planted in

It is located in the center of the city, closethe center of the courtyard and became

to Cidneo

familiar to the local citizens by Brescia. An

hill, andanniversary event took place on the 25th

experienced

April in 2007.

a longhistory of
the town.
The planting ceremony took place in the yardof the museum with a lot of participants.
Poetry reading and chorus by junior high

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Debeli Rtic,
Red Cross Slovenia
Slovenia
Ankaran
23 Mar 2000

Debeli Rtic, Redcross is located on a hill facing the Adriatic Sea.
Ms. Nada Kim Spolar, organizer of the workshops for refugees from Kosovo
and children at the SEZAM association for parents and children, cooperated
with Red cross to realize Kaki planting.
Mr. Jakov Brdar, sculptor, Mr.Tomo Vran, painter and musicians participatedin the ceremony. Elementary school students from Anton Ukmar Elementary
School presented an installation titled “scarecrow exorcising an evil”,
performace or radio broadcasting, On the beach, children made a drawing ofa peaceful city with colored stones. They also sent a painting work “A Prayer
for Life” as a gift to the executive committee in Japan.

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2000 Planting Ceremony

8Anton Ukmar
Elementary School
Slovenia
Koper
23 Mar 2000

Ms.Nada Kim Spolar, organizer of the SEZAM association for Parents andChildren realized Kaki Planting at Anton Ukmar Elementary school, which is
close to the Debeli Rtič, Red Cross. Workshops were organized in corporation
with Debeli Rtic.
After the description of the project, there was a violin play and some children
represented to plant the Kaki tree. Accompanied by a guitar play, children
walked around with singing, hands in hands. They made stone objects andsent to the Kaki tree executive committee as gift. This object is one of thetwin and the other one stays in Slovenia. Participants received each painted
stone from the basket at the site. Teachers and students from the Anton
Ukmar Elementary school made two types of brochure presenting Kaki tree
project and delivered to the people at the planting ceremony. Ms.Nada Kirn
Spolar also realized a planting at the city art museum of Ljubljana in 2003.

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2000 Planting Ceremony

9Sagra Garden
Italy
Carpi, MO
25 Mar 2000

The project was made possible by the Rotary

ceremony,

Club of Carpi and the City of Carpi at theperformance,

request of the then president of the Rotary

Japanese

Club of Carpi, Mr. Titiano Cadioli.

songs singing
or Dance were

Carpi city is one of few cities where there

presented.

were prison camps during the World WarII.

Kaki tree was

There is still the site of the camp in thedecoratedsuburb and still a revival plan of the site iswith colored

undergoing. In the center of the town, close

woodento the planting site, there is a museum, which

pieces around,shows the history of Nazism and memories of

the ceremony

the victims of Fascism.

ended with a
big success.

Citizens in Carpi are highly conscious for thepeace, therefore more than 400 people such

The Rotary Club Capri kindly introduced

as 200 students from the Instituto Musicale

the Kaki Tree Project to the Rotary Cluba Tonelli (Toneli Music Institute) and 200

Monfalcone. As a result, planting Kaki tree

citizens participated in the planting ceremony.

was realized on the 27th March 2009 in

Two weeks prior to the ceremony, they

Scuola Elementare Dante Alighieri (Dantestarted workshops by artists and students

Alighieri Elementary School).

from four classes at Scuola Elementari M.
Fanti (Fanti Elementary school). At theThe 10th Anniversary Festival was held

workshops, illustrated books of Kaki Treeon May 8, 2010. At this time, a catalog ofProject were created. On the day of thechildren's works was also produced.

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2000 Planting Ceremony

10The Courthouse Arts Centre
Ireland
Tinahely
25 Mar 2000

Ireland is the country where there is a conflict between
Catholic and Protestant. However as the first time, threeschools from two different religions participated in theplanting ceremony. Ms. Sharon Corcoran, who took an
initiative to realize the planting, was touched by this fact.
Educational programs at Tinahely Courthouse centre arecomplete so that the theatre group who played for theplanting ceremony are quite professional. They even tour
actively in several cities.
Ms. Magie Gallogher wrote an original script on Kaki tree.
They played a story of the second generation of atomic
bombed Kaki tree by including “Noh” movements. In the endof the play, actors sang an impressive original song on anti
atomic bomb.
50 students from three different school around Tinahely andtheir parents participated in the ceremony. Six representatives
from three schools organized “Kaki tree care committee” andtake care of the tree. Each year, younger students take overthe committee and continue to take care of the Kaki tree.

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Levante Park
Italy
Cesenatico, FO
26 Mar 2000

Cesenatico is the located by the Adriatic Sea in EmiliaRomagna, Italy. ADDA, an organization formed by foreign
women who acts for cultural exchange in Cesenatico,
proposed for planting kaki trees. The project started withsearching participants or place to plant. It finally formed the
Executive Committee which consisted by teachers or artists.
A lot of citizens, including the city mayor attended the
ceremony at the park because of member’s effort. Children
read poems from different languages by the overture by Ms.
Olga Nawacow. And flew the orange balloons. Following
the planting trees, a sculpture of Bombed Kaki Tree Jr. by
Mr.Giovanni Pintole was revealed. In addition, the works by
Ms. Isabel Samanez and children were exhibited. Dances,music and songs from Japan, Korea, or Senegal were
performed. Those things made the event more internationaland fun.

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Trevignano Middle School
Italy
Trevignano Romano, RM
28 Mar 2000

In the city, Trevignano Romano, there are

students were shown at the ceremony. In

many foreigners from different countries.

addition to a sculpture, some photographs ofSince they are curious about each other’s

sculptures given from around the world from

culture, the city government established

Peace Memorial Park in Nagasaki. Moreover,national days for international exchanges.

booklets about Japan were given out, andthe works by students were exhibited at the

Mr.Giuliano Nencini, who was in chargetheater which organized by Professer, Mariafor culture in the city office, applied for

Grazia Carcani.

planting kaki trees. And Ms.Shihomi Kishida,a Japanese women who lives in Trevignano

The Japanese Embassy sent a message andRomano and her family organized ceremony,

pencils as gifts for children for the ceremony.
While Ms.Sara Kishida was playing the

The day of planting ceremony was regarded

violin, the girl with wearing a crown made by

as Japan day. About 300 people including

flowers read the planting.

students and their parents planted trees at
the front yard of junior high school in the

However a tree grew one fruit in 2002,

city centre. Although it had been raining

both trees died down in 2004. But someone

so hard, the sun came up just before theplanted another kaki tree (not bombed tree)

ceremony. The big drawing of kaki trees andand people are taking care of it, as it is “Kakia sculpture that represent hope for peace byTree from Nagasaki.”

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Franklin Park Conservatory
and Botanical Garden
USA
Columbus, Ohio
28 Mar 2000

A member of Columbus Arts Council saw

This town became the first town that plants

the exhibition at Venice Biennale and appliedkaki trees in U.S. There are many Japanesefor planting. The Columbus Arts Council has

people living in this town. They createdbeen developing the program, ”Children of

Ikebana and origami with showing how to

the Future”, which is for children who are

create it, and held Japanese style dinner withnot given enough education. The members

sushi. In addition to that, Some Americans

decided to let them participate planting as aplayed Japanese drums.

part of the program.
In 28th March 2001, The Birthday Party for
Kaki Trees was held according to will to keep
holding some workshops for the project evenafter planting from those who participatedthe planting ceremony.
And in 2008, we received beautiful
photographs of fruits of kaki and its leaves.

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“ G.Mazzini”Primary School
Italy
Terni, TR
31 Mar 2000

ceremony. Moreover, Theatrical Company
Pino read a story, a group of Japanese
students who study at G.Briccialdi performed
playing piano and sang a song. The nextday, April 1st, a parade for wishing for peacestarted from plaza of city. During the parade,the performance by street performers from
Artioscene, playing ethnic music by somegroup, and appeal for peace by “Gli altri
Terni is the central city of Terni prefecture insiamo Noi” were shown. A lot of citizens

Umbria state where has beautiful scenery ofparticipated the parade. In 24th May, about

greens at Middle of Italy. “Gli altri siamo Noi”

two month later, the event “KAKI Festival”

is the organization which intends children for

was held and many works were created for

educational activities about peace, charitythat as well.

and human rights, formed in 1998 by young
people. One of the organizations saw theexhibition at Venice Biennale and applied forplanting. According to that, Ms.Valeria Della
Croce, a member of “Gli altri siamo Noi”
encouraged the city government to support
the project. As the result, it was decided toplant kaki trees at public elementary school.
Until the ceremony, students created many
drawings and sculptures about kaki trees,
peace, and the war with collaborating
artists. They also performed in chorus andplaying music of messages for peace at the

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2000 Planting Ceremony

15Youth Center
Italy
Poggibonsi, SI
1 Apr 2000

idea of “feeding” the tree. The
performance was intended toraise the children’s awarenessof their participation in theevent and of their affection
for the kaki tree and also to
Ms.Donatella Bagnoli, a city official ofenable them to connect the growth of the

Poggibonsi in Italy, visited the Japan pavilion at

seedling and that of their own. The children

the Biennale three times and conceived the idea

participated, with their heads, arms, andof a kaki planting in Poggibonsi’s youth center.

waists decorated with cloths with theirnames on them, and above them hang a lot

Like Nagasaki, the city of Poggibonsiof the “leaves” which bore such words andexperienced air-raids during WWII, and tophrases as “tree,” “kaki,” “the Kaki Tree

unite the two cities’ wish for peace, a series

Project 2000,” “friendship,” and “children”

of workshops were held. In them an artwork

in Japanese. The seedling was planted with

was presented, where colorful kaki “leaves”

lots of love and nutrition from the children,with messages of peace hang all over theand the children and the seedling were unitedroom. Moreover, a booklet was produced,

in a most natural way. Just as the organizers

which described the Nagasaki bombing, thehoped, the children’s memories were, are,air-raids against Poggibonsi, and the Kakiand will be nurtured through the growth ofProject as well as the course of the events

the seedling.

which led to the planting in Poggibonsi andthe details of the workshops.
The planting was a great success andattended by ocal school children, theirparents and interested citizens, about 300
people in total. The planting was done in avery original manner: each of the participantchildren sprinkled a spoonful of soil over theseedling, which is based upon Ms. Bagnoli’s

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San Donato Milanese Town Hall
Italy
San Donato Milanese, MI
1 Apr 2000

Ms.Giuditta Gelati, a young official at the city’s

flowers with theirpeace committee, played a central role in theteachers’ help. In

San Donato Milanese planting. She promotes

the subsequentexchange programs in peace education and

MURALES

organized the planting as an official event ofworkshop, local

the city. She also invited representatives fromartists put theseother places in Milan whose applications,origami animals

unfortunately, had been unsuccessful to joining

and flowers on

the local executive committee.

to the pictures of“leaf-less” kaki

In the planting site, a large kaki-tree figuretrees. As more

was exhibited as its symbol. As volunteers

people participated, the four kaki “trees”

from the local artist society prepared for thegrew with more “leaves” and bear “fruit.”

planting, children started to turn up at the site
one after another. The participants had been

Many citizens, including the mayor, gathered

given a kaki-colored rope beforehand andat the ceremony, which was carried out while

decorated themselves in their own manners.

school children from M.L. King elementary

Ms. Gelati came up with this wonderful idea

school were singing songs of peace. Walking

when she attended a workshop in Burano,

among the children with a microphone inwhich employed the same idea and impressed

hand was Mr. Andrea Checchi, who was a

her tremendously. In one corner of thekeen supporter of the project and also one ofplanting site, members from the local artist

the participants in the Burano planting. Upon

society held an exhibit titled “memory” on

the successful completion of the planting,the theme of the kaki project. There was also

the musical performance by “ESPRESSIONE

an exhibit in the lobby area which presented

CORPOREA “ began with the beat of thethe artworks that were produced by school

percussion. During the performance theychildren and students when they participatedvehemently called for a participation in thein the workshop held on an earlier occasion.

Kaki Project and the music climaxed when
the students invited the children into the centre

Prior to the planting, children painted

and the crowd started to dance in circle. At the

pictures of the kaki tree and of peace inend of the event, a documentary video produced

watercolor and cut them out in the shape ofby the teachers was shown, which contained,a kaki leaf. In the meantime, children in theamong other things, the scene of performance

lobby area did origami, making animals andrehearsal and interviews of the participants.

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“ G.Ungaretti”Middle School
Italy
Pordenone, PN
1 Apr 2000

The application was made by a teacher at

Italy and are hoping that their participation

Scuola Media Statale “G.Ungaretti,” Ms.

will help the students in these places

Luigina Moro, who was impressed with thecommunicate with each other.

exhibit at the 1999 Biennale. Prior to theplanting, students wrote poems and painted

On the day of the planting, students gave

pictures on the theme of kaki tree in class.

a performance in the school gym, and the

The collection of their poems was laterkaki seedling was planted in the schoolyard.

made into a leaflet and was distributed to

About 80 students, who wore a card

the participants at the planting. Some of the

depicting “people, kaki and peace” aroundteachers have since actively participated intheir necks on a string, took part in the eventthe planting events held in other places inand celebrated the occasion.

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2000 Planting Ceremony18Lama Monachile Bridge
Italy
Polignano a Mare, BA
2 Apr 2000

The application was made through Associazinone italiana
donatori and the art project organization, RICICLARTE. Prior
to the planting, a seminar was held under the title “Revivetime—Atomic bombs and the Holocaust: Are their memory
still alive in our thought and in public opinion today?” Many
young students, as well as interested citizens, attended theseminar and had lively discussions not only about nuclear
bombs and the holocaust but about various problems plaguingsouthern Italy such as unemployment, poverty, violence andso on.
The planting ceremony was preceded by a lively performanceand parade by the brass band consisting of 40 military
personnel. Many town people came out as the parade
approached the center of the town. The ceremony started
with the speech delivered by the bishop, and the attendants
remembered their ancestors and others in their prayers. It
was followed by the guests’ speeches, the presentation of
the artworks created by local artists and children, interviews,
and a poetry reading. The attendants then walked on theesplanade to the planting site, where flew the beautiful
Kaki (persimmon)-colored flag which was handmade by thestudents. The planting was done by two children with a help
from local farmers. The site is located in a valley facing thebeautiful inlet called LAMA. There still stands an old Roman
bridge, under which a river used to flow from the hill into
the sea. Along the esplanade many artworks were exhibited,and near the bridge flew in the wind a number of calligraphy
pieces created by Gio and others, each of which was a
4-meter-long sash-like flag. “Art is in me,” the participants
repeatedly remarked during the event, and it marked the great
success of the project in southernmost place in Italy.

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Jungoe Park
Korea
Kwangju
4 Apr 2000

The first planting in Asia was carried out in Gwangju.

Foundation, Council representative civic and also

Before the event, there was some concern about

80 people who live in the city. It was agreed

anti-Japanese feelings in South Korea, but the event

there that art galleries and museums would help

went smoothly without any problems.

to hold workshops for children in the future.
(Incidentally, Mr. Ha is a well-known collector of

The idea of the Gwangju planting was conceived

artworks of Zai-nichi artists. He has donated towhen Mr. Ha Jung-Woong, one of the exhibition

Gwangju Art Gallery 683 pieces in total from hisorganizers of the 3rd Gwangju Biennale and a Zai-

collection which he has accumulated in the lastnichi (a Korean living in Japan), saw and was

35 years. At the Gwangju Biennale, an exhibition

impressed by the Kaki Tree Project exhibit at Mitowas held under the title “the Human Rights of

Art Gallery. Mr. Ha then contacted Ms.Sunhee Kim

Zai-nichi” on the basis of his collection.

of Gwangju city Art Gallery, who had seen the
exhibit at the Biennale in Venice, and she became

Subsequently, there occurred an incident in whicha supporter of the project. Just two weeks before

the planted seedling was pulled out because of

the expected planting, after Mr. Ha’s meeting withthe raising nationalistic, anti-Japanese feelings.

the Gwangju Biennale executive committee, Mr.

In 2001 another seedling was planted but was

Kim Sang-yoon, it was decided that the Biennale

soon destroyed again. In 2003 a third seedlingwould be in charge of the planting project inwas planted, fenced with barbed wire. “In the

Gwangju. Having received an approval from theknowledge of the historical facts, we must build

mayor as well as from principal human rights

a new relationship. How could we teach children

organizations in Gwangju, the planting was carried

about the importance of life and peace if weout. Unfortunately, no children participated in thecannot take care of one single seedling of kaki?”event, but it was significant indeed that a second-

Mr. Ha’s passionate words appears to have been

generation seedling of Hibaku-kaki was planted forheard finally: the seedling is just doing fine!

the first time in Asia.
In 2015, the forum "Revive Time Kaki Tree
The attendants at the ceremony include, in

Project, History and Meaning of Gwangju" wasaddition to the numerous press people, Mayor

held at the Gwangju City Museum of Art, withof Gwangju

a report by the tree doctor Masayuki Ebinuma

Metropolitan

and a keynote speech by Tatsuo Miyajima.

City, Director

Furthermore, as a panelist, Mr.Tsukasa Mori fromof Gwangju

Tokyo Arts Council talked about "the position ofMuseum of Art,

the Kaki tree as an art of peace", which was a

CEO of The May

great opportunity to think about the meaning of

18 Memorial

the kaki tree in Korea.

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Napoleonic Garden
Italy
Castello, VE
7 Apr 2000

Mr. Swole applied for the Kaki Tree Project for young people in Carpi and thetree planting at Giardini Napoleonici became a reality.
The tree planting ceremony was planned and carried out by students of D
and G classes in the first year of P.F. Carpi Middle School under the directionof teacher Flavio Franceschetto. The ceremony took place with cooperationof Castello Association and the tree was planted by the students from Carpi
in Giardini Napoleonici. Children from Carpi Middle School and children of
six classes from nearby Scuola Elementare Diaz and Scuola Elementare
Gozzi, as well as small children from Elena Nursery School, Chairman of the
Associazione di Zanetti and residents of Carpi also took part in the ceremonyso it was a big event. Net fences and a plate were installed around the tree
and it will be protected by young people in Carpi.

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Leiden Botanical Garden,
University of Leiden
The Netherlands
Leiden6 Jun 2000

Leiden is a city located in the southwesternartists conducted two workshops at a nearby

part of the Netherlands and is known as theelementary school before the exhibitioncity associated with Siebold. The Siebold

and the artworks made by children during

House, which contains his ethnographic

the workshops were also on display. At

items from Japan collected during his life andthe opening of the ceremony, children fromis open to the public, has been turned intoneighboring elementary and middle schoolsa museum of Japanese art and introduces amarched while playing drums. The seedlingwide range of Japanese culture from the Edo

was displayed in the center of the exhibition

period to contemporary art.

site and leaf-shaped message cards werehung around the tree. Some cooking recipes

The contemporary art exhibition “Voices

using persimmon were also introduced.

from JAPAN” was held in the Netherlands
to commemorate the 400th anniversary of

The seedling that displayed at the exhibition

Japan-Dutch relations. The Kaki Tree Project

was planted in the Hortus Botanicus on 16th

was invited to the exhibition and introduced

October. Since that time of the year was

the project’s activities in the Hortus Botanicus

not suitable for planting, it was temporarilyof the Universiteit Leiden. Ms. Nicole Roepers

planted in a big pot and planted safely on

and Ms. Carla Teune of the Hortus Botanicus

the ground in May in the following year.

took the lead in preparing the display andMany people gathered at the tree planting

local artists including Ms. Simone de Yong

ceremony, during which poetry reading and amade their works based on the materials

musical performance by artists were held.

sent by the project’s secretariat. Four dutch
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The Hockaday School
USA
Dallas, TX
25 Oct 2000

The Hockaday School is a private, all-girls school wherestudents from around the world gather and learn. Ms. Dee
Mayes, artist and visual arts teacher at the lower school, saw
the “seedlings from the bomb survived persimmon tree” at the
Venice Biennale in 1999 and proposed planting of the tree tothe school. Although some raised voices against taking part in
the project that is involved in the atomic bomb, she appealed
that by growing the “seedling from the bomb survived
persimmon tree,” children will feel in their daily lives theimportance of peace and will also help understand different
cultures, and she finally won the support from the school.
The tree planting ceremony took place in the lobby of theschool. Ms. Dee made preparations for the ceremony with anumber of prior workshops on the persimmon tree. On the
day of the ceremony, children from the first to fourth grades
gathered around the tree and sang a song of peace in English
and Japanese. After speeches made by Mr. Ebinuma and an
executive committee member, there was a workshop to makeorigami persimmons. Children already made many origami cranes
beforehand and gave them to children in Japan. The rest of theorigami cranes were delivered to Hiroshima Peace Memorial.
In the letter that Ms. Dee sent us later, one of the students
after taking part in the project wrote as follows: “The makingof peace begins deep in your heart. When you open yourheart to others, peace makes its way through everyone.” Very
impressive. Then, an article on the Kaki Tree Project by Ms.
Dee Mayes that appeared in the education magazine “Teaching
Tolerance” produced a lot of reaction, which resulted in many
applications for the tree planting from educators in the USA.

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