PlantingCeremony

2009

Revive Time・Kaki Tree ProjectINDEX
12 MarUpdated in 2020

Ushiku 3rd Junior High School
Ushuku-shi, Ibaraki,Japan

13 Mar“Antonio Campi” Middle School
Cremona, CR, Italy

20 Mar

“T.Reytana” High School
Warszawa, Poland

21 MarRestaurant “Castello Malvezzi”
Brescia, BS, Italy

21 MarBotanic garden next to S. Rocco Church
Gussago, BS, Italy

21 MarCellatica Primary School
Cellatica, BS, Italy

24 Mar

Monfalcone Rotary Club
Grado, GO, Italy

Mar

Children Center
Bordeaux, France

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2009 Planting Ceremony

1234
5678Ushiku 3rd Junior High SchoolJapanUshuku-shi, Ibaraki
12 Mar 2009

The tree planting at Ushiku 3rd Junior High School
was realized because a city council member ofUshiku learned about the project when it took
place at Toride Second Junior High School in theneighboring city and introduced the project to thecity’s education board. Ushiku-City dispatches
representatives of students from junior high schools
in the city to Hiroshima as peace missionary. Whenthey come back from Hiroshima, they present what
they have learned about war and the atomic bombat a reporting session called “Peace gathering inschool” every year.
To the “Peace gathering in school” held on 21stNovember 2008, head of the Kaki Tree Project,
Tatsuo Miyajima was invited and those students

who went to Hiroshima presented a wonderfulreport on what they had learned. During thesession, students watched a DVD on the Kaki
Tree Project and heard Miyajima’s explanations
on the project, so they already had improved
understanding of the project before sending theapplication form officially.
For the tree planting ceremony held on 12thMarch 2009, Teacher Fukuda, who was incharge, took the lead in preparations together
with students. Mr. Ebinuma also came from
Nagasaki to participate in the ceremony. Since thegraduation ceremony was held on the day before,
Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2009 Planting Ceremony

there were no
more third year
students around,however,
we playedtrue or false
trivia quizzes
on peace with first and second year students.
Although there were some tough questions, a few
of them got all the answers right. It was followed
by a talk by Mr. Ebinuma and an address madeby Miyajima and then two “seedlings from thebombed persimmon tree” were planted in theschoolyard. They surrounded the trees and sang
“Furusato (Hometown)” in chorus. The voices ofstudents were in wonderful harmony and left astrong impression on participants. Lastly we tookgroup photos. Teacher Fukuda conveyed goodnews at the end of April that one of the two trees
had put forth buds.
In 2020, our country was scheduled to hostthe Tokyo Olympics.Maroussi Junior HighSchool in Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic
Games, was scheduled to plant an A-bombedkaki tree in 2020, which was to be the yearof the Olympics. They contacted Ushiku 3rdJunior High School through the Greek Embassy.
They wanted to interact with the students ofUshiku 3rd Junior High School through the Kaki
Tree Project.The students have sent a video of
their Japanese drumming performance and amessage to the students as they planted trees
in Greece. Unfortunately, due to the spreadof the coronavirus in 2020, the tree-planting
ceremony at the Marousi Junior High School
was postponed. With the postponement of theOlympics, we are hoping that the exchange
between the two junior high schools will happen
in the future to coincide with the Olympics.
1

“ Antonio Campi”
Middle School
Italy
Cremona, CR
13 Mar 2009

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2009 Planting Ceremony

2

“ T.Reytana”High School
PolandWarszawa
20 Mar 2009

After hearing about the Kaki Tree Projectfrom Mr. Yoshinori Ogawa, who is a memberof the Kaki Tree Project Executive Committee,
a school teacher in Poland applied to planta kaki tree. This year is also the 90th
anniversary of the friendship between Japanand Poland. The original plan was to plant thetrees at an elementary school in Warsaw, but
the actual planting took place at the Tadeusz
Leytan High School in Warsaw.

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2009 Planting Ceremony3

Restaurant“ Castello Malvezzi”
Italy
Brescia, BS21 Mar 2009

Ristorante “Castello Malvezzi” is a very

children from nearby elementary schools.

famous restaurant situated in the suburbs ofThis place is an excellent location for people

Brescia. Ms. Enrica Bortolazzi, manager ofof various generations to know about thethe restaurant, took part in the tree planting

persimmon tree since this is a busy place.

ceremony held in the province of Brescia
in 2008 and realized that this is a very

Mr. and Mrs. Manisera from Associazione

meaningful project to convey the message ofculturale italo giapponese Fuji, who promote

peace and to connect people or with younger

the Kaki Tree Project in Italy every year,generation. So she applied for the project inalso participated in the ceremony. Although

the hope that it would become “a symbol ofthere were only about ten children amongpeace” for children and the tree planting took

participants, they did the drawing and wrote

place on 21st March 2009.

messages on the big table in the garden. Allof them had an opportunity to put soil overThe tree planting was carried out in thethe roots, wishing it to thrive.

middle of the garden of the restaurant. There
are many animals kept in the garden andA concert as well as other events around theit serves as a learning place of nature fortree are planned in June 2009.

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2009 Planting Ceremony

4

Botanic garden next toS. Rocco Church
Italy
Gussago, BS
21 Mar 2009

Mrs. Pieranna Venturell, mayor of the city offor one year since the arrival of these trees a year

Gussago, signed a proposal for a public appeal forago and Mr. and Mrs. Manisera from Associazione

support for Hiroshima and Nagasaki in November

culturale italo giapponese Fuji attended the2008 and the city also supported a campaign

ceremony. More than 50 children from local“Future without nuclear weapons” from September

elementary and middle schools and their parents

2007 until March 2008, which collected moregathered to the trees in front of the church. Mr.

than 60,000 signatures in Italy. The mayor serves

Manisera introduced Mr. Ebinuma’s message inas the chairperson of the “Council for peace and

Italian and Mrs. Manisera introduced a message

solidarity” of the city as well. The “Peace-Solidarityin Japanese as well. After an address made byConference” is engaged as the local government

mayor Venturell, children tied the Kaki Furoshikiorganization in activities to set the concept of

to a pole and hoisted it up like a flag and all thegood and evil solidly in people’s mind through aparticipants followed the flag walking down to theculture of peace in order to avoid the mistakes

planting site. When they planted the trees, theyof the past. With such thoughts, people of theburied a small capsule that contained messages,

city of Gussago planted the “seedlings from thetoo. All the children put soil over the roots withbomb survived persimmon tree” on 21st of Marchboth hands and adults followed suit. Afterward,

2009 in the Botanical Garden next to San Rocco

Mr. Tanaka explained how to grow persimmon

Church in the city, wishing these trees to becometree and answered a few questions.

a symbol of peace and hope.
Prior to the tree planting, the city held a
San Rocco church is located on top of a small

screening of a film and a study session on nuclear

hill in the center of the town. People can walkdisarmament. There was also an exhibition called

up to the church enjoying peace and a pleasant“Hiroshima,” which was held from 14th until

scenery and the view from the top of the hill is

21st of March 2009. Meanwhile, the government

magnificent. This time unfortunately neither Mr.

is proceeding with preparations for review

Ebinuma nor the executive committee members

conference of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in

could attend the tree planting ceremony from2010. From now on, the church caretaker will join

Japan, however, Mr. Shouzo Tanaka, who kept

with a volunteer group in taking care of the trees

and had taken a good care of five persimmon trees

for children.

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2009 Planting Ceremony

5

Cellatica Primary School
Italy
Cellatica, BS
21 Mar 2009

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2009 Planting Ceremony

6

Monfalcone Rotary Club
Italy
Grado, GO24 Mar 2009

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2009 Planting Ceremony

7Children CenterFranceBordeaux
Mar 2009

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2009 Planting Ceremony

8