Witness Trees of Hiroshima
Spherical Photodocumentaryof the Hibaku Jomoku
An Outreach Ecology report by YD Bar-NessNovember 2014

http://www.outreachecology.com outreachecology@gmail.com
With Green Legacy Hiroshima, ANT-Hiroshima, & Asian Geographic
Field visits conducted with Hideko Yamada and Chikari Horiguchi.
Special thanks to Nassrine Azimi, Tomoka Watanabe, and David Peterson.
Japanese language contact: green@ant-hiroshima.org

Overview
Hiroshima, Japan, is home to several dozen trees that survived the atomicweapon incident on 6 August 1945. These trees have been used as environmentaleducation ambassadors and are signposted in Japanese and English.

A databaseof more than 55 trees is maintained (http://www.unitar.org/greenlegacyhiroshima)
and used for diverse educational and artistic projects They are part of a story
that is emotionally and historically important, and, with the trees at Nagasaki, tella unique story of conflict and resilience.
In August 2014, Outreach Ecology was fortunate to visit Hiroshima and meetseveral of these trees in the company of Green Legacy Hiroshima. During thesevisits, we conducted spherical panorama photography using Google Photo Sphereas a baseline photomonitoring effort. We additionally discussed ideas formonitoring and sharing the existence of these trees.
In this document we present the digital photospheres and briefly list some ideas
for projects about these trees.

Trees visited and methods
We used the labelling scheme for the trees that is listed by Green Legacy
Hiroshima at

http://www.unitar.org/green-legacy-hiroshima-bomb-trees-database.

This listing is actually by “spot” rather than by “stem”. For example, the listing for#25 is actually "25) 1370m Ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba), muku tree (Aphanantheaspera) and Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii)" The number before theparenthesis is the ranking of this spot by distance from the blast Hypocenter. The
number after the parenthesis is the distance in meters from the Hypocenter at
34.3948189 degrees N Latitude and 132.4544769 degrees E Longitude.

We visited fifteen trees during the course of two days in August 2014 in thecompany of Green Legacy Hiroshima (note that spot 25 has been divided into
three individual trees):• 01) 370m Weeping willow (Salix babylonica)• 06) 530m Persimmon (Diospyros kaki) and others• 07) 740m Eucalypt (Eucalyptus melliodora)• 07) 740m giant pussy willow (Salix chaenomeloides)• 11) 910m Kurogane hollies (Ilex rotunda)• 16) 1110m Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora)• 17) 1120m Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora)• 18) 1120m Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora)• 19) 1130m Ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba)• 23)1300m Chinese parasol trees (Firmiana simplex)• 25) 1370m Ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba)• 25) 1370m Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii)• 25) 1370m muku tree (Aphananthe aspera)• 32) 1590m Japanese fern palms (Cycas revoluta)• 53) 2160m Ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba)
At each of these trees we conducted spherical photo panoramas using a androidsmartphone.

Each image is a special two-dimensional photograph that is warped

in such a way that a computer can transform it into a sphere. This is the reverseof a mapmaker creating a flat representation of the spherical Earth. In addition tothe pixel data of the image itself, each image contains special metadata thatrecords:

•Time and date of the image•GPS location on Earth•Compass orientation of the image center

Using these data in combination, a variety of maps, guides, and future projects
can be set up.

Photo Sphere Technology
Fifteen photospheres were made recording the environment next to or within thebranches of the Hibaku Trees. These photospheres are available at:
http://www.outreachecology.com/go/share/HiroshimaSpheres_byYDBar-Ness.zip(33mb)

They can be used as “flat images” and are useful as a novel form ofphotography. However, they are also viewable as interactive immersive panoramas.
To that end, the spheres were uploaded to Google Maps as Street Views, and toSphereshare.net. They are visible as interactive panoramas, shareable via socialmedia, and embeddable to any web page.
Google Views
Google has published several of the Photospheres in the Google Street View
Archive, which is connected to Google Maps. You can see them via the author’s
profile page at:https://www.google.com/maps/views/profile/108807947678408201479

The photospheres are geotagged and captioned with the label as listed above.
The direct links to them on Google Views are included in the Resource List at theend of this document.
People searching in Google Views http://maps.google.com/views for Hiroshima willdetect these and other nearby spheres and can select them from the Spheres on
the displayed map.
For example, please visit https://www.google.com/maps/views/u/0/explore?
gl=au&ll=34.395297,132.442115&bd=34.375003,132.402161,34.415586,132.482069&z=14

When the preview window in the center is selected, then the spherical panorama
is entered.

You can now look in several directions by dragging the mouse or touching thescreen.

Individual photospheres are visible and include share and embed options. You canuse the embed options to place this photosphere on any web site.

Points on Google Maps:
You can also view them as points on Google Map, by selecting the option “Viewon Google Maps.” The direct links are included in the Resource List at the end of
this document.

Again, you can look in all directions within the spherical panoramas. In the Maps
View you can select nearby photospheres from the filmstrip at the bottom, orselect the interactive map to explore by geography.

Any visitor to Google Maps can explore the Views and Photospheres on the map
by opening the panel via the button at the lower right. If they are zoomed into anarea that has photospheres they will see a selection appear at the bottom.:Sphereshare.net
Sphereshare is an alternate service to Google Maps. You can visit it atwww.Sphereshare.net You can visit the author's profile page directly at:
http://sphereshare.net/#!/p/111514389300552823597

The direct links are included in the Resource List at the end of this document.
You can select the sphere directly from this page or from the map at:
http://sphereshare.net/#!/mapWhen the sphere is selected you can again view the panorama in all directions.

There are options to share to social networks in the upper right, and a button toembed into web pages.

Ideas for public participation

We hope that this work will spark a discussion on ongoing monitoring of thesetrees. If someone revisits these trees and conducts spherical panoramas on aregular interval, then we will be able to create a timelapse of image that can help
us to understand these trees and their changes over time.
Drawing upon our experience withthe project Landmark Trees of India(www.outreachecology.com/landmark), we believe that he Hibaku trees areespecially well suited to this efforts. This is partially because of the historicalphotos taken of these trees. For example, the Eucalyptus melliodora at Hiroshima
Castle is notably figured in a photograph from 1946 following the atomic blast.
With this as a starting point, a series of photos taken in the same location canbe a useful tool for ecological understanding and historical education.
To help people to take a photo in the same spot, a small arrow can be marked
on the ground for people to stand on and take a photo. Google Earth tours andKML/KMZ files can be used to create virtual maps of these trees, and to assist indrafting physical maps. Interactive web sites can use the spheres, the location
data, the information text, and the dates to create more elaborate combinations.
You can speak with a web designer about how to handle the incoming photos. A
simple solution is to use a hashtag to identify posts on social media connectedwith this project. For example, if I post a photo to Facebook, Twitter, or Instagramwith the hashtag #HiroshimaHibaku07, then someone interested in seeing photo
about this tree can look for this hashtag online.
How can we encourage people to take their.own photographs? One idea is tohave a schoolchild’s event where they can have an adventure and a map, and ateach tree they take a photo. This map could be given for free at the visitor
centre or at the Memorial. A small sign or note at the tree can request people
take their own photographs as an ongoing memorial to these trees. You can also
arrange field trips where people walk around together to visit the trees and post
their own photos. A small contest can be run where prizes and awards are given
to people who take the best photograph of the tree.
Critically, photographs of these trees need to have the label of the tree (or spot)
they are linked to as well as the time and date they are taken.

Ideas for connecting modern imagery with historical imagery

Eucalyptus at Hiroshima Castle by Shigeo Hayashi October 1945; Horiguchi-san at
the same tree in August 2014. Eucalyptus trees have evolved fundamental
interactions with natural forest fires and this tree appears to have recovered fromthe atomic bomb by resprouting of epicormic buds.

The Gingko at Shukkein Garden, Hiroshima, in September 1945; the same appears
in the panorama on the left.

We also suggest that you explore using HistoryPin https://www.historypin.org.
This project helps people line up historical photographs and take modern replicas.
You can explore historical photos using a map or by searching nearby with asmartphone. We can upload photos of the trees that can be used as a baseline
for taking modern pictures.

Screen captures from the HistoryPin web page
There is also the project Timera http://www.timera.com/Explorewhich helps
people to create a photo that combines historical and modern imagery in one
picture.

Screen captures from the Timera web page

Future ideas
We hope that Green Legacy Hiroshima and ANT-Hiroshima will help to share these
spheres with Japanese-speaking colleagues, government officers, and others whowill use them to memorialise these trees and the events they represent.
Most importantly, we hope they will spark a conversation about ongoingappreciation of these trees by encouraging visitors to engage with the trees
directly.
We encourage readers to track down the English language book Survivors: The A-

bombed Trees of Hiroshima (http://www.myspace.com/hiroshima_trees).
We also encourage readers to read and enjoy Asian Geographic, a Singaporebased magazine. A narrative article describing this project was contributed in
September 2014 and may hopefully be published in an upcoming issue.
Please contact Outreach Ecology directly via email – outreachecology@gmail.com– and let us know if we can be of any future assistance.
Arigato!

Resource List•

Tree Label•

Sphereshare direct link•

Google Views direct link•

Google Maps direct link

You can find the code to embed the sphere into a web page on the direct page.
•01) 370m Weeping willow (Salix babylonica)•

http://www.sphereshare.net/#!/s/6c9709392b427d5c77eb187ca2bbbbac•

https://www.google.com/maps/views/view/108807947678408201479/gphoto/6085816624880886562?gl=au&heading=328&pitch=89&fovy=90•

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.3976389,132.4533819,3a,75y,340h,90t/da
ta=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1sNbxnQ5pfEAcAAAQY_PH3DA!2e0!3e11•06) 530m Persimmon (Diospyros kaki) and others•

http://www.sphereshare.net/#!/s/a950c4e8b7cf649310920aff1060d822•

https://www.google.com/maps/views/view/108807947678408201479/gphoto/6085816621312506434?gl=au&heading=264&pitch=90&fovy=75•

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.3898928,132.4565169,3a,75y,263h,90t/da
ta=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1sMycGVPmUut4AAAQY_PH3Cg!2e0!3e11•07) 740m Eucalypt (Eucalyptus melliodora)•

http://www.sphereshare.net/#!/s/d048c48f656f344f389ded8f8e9afaa5•

https://www.google.com/maps/views/view/108807947678408201479/gphoto/6051485417436727666?gl=au&heading=347&pitch=90&fovy=75•

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.4045078,132.4829839,3a,75y,323h,90t/da
ta=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1sO5PxYyQHpEwAAAQfCWEK-A!2e0!3e11•07) 740m giant pussy willow (Salix chaenomeloides)•

http://www.sphereshare.net/#!/s/0290d2bb14197e50dc074ad15298b2e5•

https://www.google.com/maps/views/view/108807947678408201479/gphoto/6085816622212463570?gl=au&heading=267&pitch=59&fovy=75•

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.4004228,132.459615,3a,75y,122h,90t/dat

a=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1spFLPVi2E7JoAAAQY_PH3Dg!2e0!3e11•11) 910m Kurogane hollies (Ilex rotunda)•

http://www.sphereshare.net/#!/s/c4aed818c38a422e78442bec6fc7b6ca•

https://www.google.com/maps/views/view/108807947678408201479/gphoto/6051485417267128098?gl=au&heading=154&pitch=90&fovy=75•

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.4017369,132.4599908,3a,75y,154h,90t/da
ta=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1sF8jOtxGdqeQAAAQfCWELBw!2e0!3e11•16) 1110m Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora)•

http://www.sphereshare.net/#!/s/645d40e2b0896138386f3a10be773394•

https://www.google.com/maps/views/view/108807947678408201479/gphoto/6085816623853596530?gl=au&heading=94&pitch=90&fovy=75•

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.4014519,132.4643119,3a,75y,94h,90t/dat
a=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1sVtWY_eg-ST0AAAQY_PH3DQ!2e0!3e11•17) 1120m Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora)•

http://www.sphereshare.net/#!/s/12f98d2c822222a96f6e6919c4befea8•

https://www.google.com/maps/views/view/108807947678408201479/gphoto/6051485414994843778?gl=au&heading=66&pitch=90&fovy=75•

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.403055,132.46174,3a,75y,61h,90t/data=!
3m5!1e1!3m3!1s5W6jgz150pYAAAQfCWEK9g!2e0!3e1118) 1120m Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora)•

http://www.sphereshare.net/#!/s/49fc3fab6080f5032f2fccf0747b48f6•

https://www.google.com/maps/views/view/108807947678408201479/gphoto/6085816623687626066?gl=au&heading=246&pitch=90&fovy=75•

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.4024869,132.4625728,3a,75y,243h,90t/da
ta=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1smiR4Cw2xvfgAAAQY_PH3Dw!2e0!3e11•19) 1130m Ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba)•

http://www.sphereshare.net/#!/s/1b8ac2a94fe9f3f082c5f2b5465fd785•

https://www.google.com/maps/views/view/108807947678408201479/gphoto/6085816622609961906?gl=au&heading=210&pitch=90&fovy=75

•https://www.google.com/maps/@34.4037719,132.4496089,3a,75y,209h,90t/da
ta=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1sFy7AFIASLXgAAAQY_PH3EA!2e0!3e11•23) 1300m Chinese parasol trees (Firmiana simplex)•

http://www.sphereshare.net/#!/s/fe8d169b13508096f7a3aed403146f5d•

https://www.google.com/maps/views/view/108807947678408201479/gphoto/6051485414112395234?gl=au&heading=281&pitch=90&fovy=75•

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.3918778,132.4532808,3a,75y,280h,90t/da
ta=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1sy44bbatyOksAAAQfCWELBA!2e0!3e11•25) 1370m Ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba)•

http://www.sphereshare.net/#!/s/cf5f6517aec69017b65999b3470af0e5•

https://www.google.com/maps/views/view/108807947678408201479/gphoto/6051485417281327746?gl=au&heading=26&pitch=90&fovy=75•

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.4002789,132.4685489,3a,75y,25h,90t/dat
a=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1s9-1TL8tigFwAAAQfCWELAA!2e0!3e11•25) 1370m Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii)•

http://www.sphereshare.net/#!/s/c2022de08d940453753705a1a4730b6e•

https://www.google.com/maps/views/view/108807947678408201479/gphoto/6051485415349980066?gl=au&heading=17&pitch=90&fovy=75•

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.4004558,132.468535,3a,75y,15h,90t/data=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1sopbskxJG7VUAAAQfCWEK8g!2e0!3e11•25) 1370m muku tree (Aphananthe aspera)•http://www.sphereshare.net/#!/s/4636f8bc47c3364bf0431ebe04a17624•

https://www.google.com/maps/views/view/108807947678408201479/gphoto/6051485416234728082?gl=au&pitch=90&fovy=75•

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.40142,132.4673719,3a,75y,90t/data=!
3m5!1e1!3m3!1sPwQhUQ7y4S0AAAQfCWEK-Q!2e0!3e11•32) 1590m Japanese fern palms (Cycas revoluta)•

http://www.sphereshare.net/#!/s/1cb8c44e4e9174765a77a4c5a9df7e3e•

https://www.google.com/maps/views/view/108807947678408201479/gphoto/6051485416517438114?gl=au&heading=141&pitch=90&fovy=75

•https://www.google.com/maps/@34.39364,132.4725308,3a,75y,132h,90t/data=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1slcI9hfvhZAYAAAQfCWELBg!2e0!3e11•53) 2160m Ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba)•

http://www.sphereshare.net/#!/s/0525483a75326cdc4470c1349d6a45c6•

https://www.google.com/maps/views/view/108807947678408201479/gphoto/6085816623585336146?gl=au&heading=126&pitch=90&fovy=75•

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.4094639,132.4704589,3a,75y,125h,90t/da
ta=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1saUt_07aCw3wAAAQY_PH3Cw!2e0!3e11•

0 Hypocenter•

http://www.sphereshare.net/#!/s/645d40e2b0896138386f3a10be773394•

https://www.google.com/maps/views/view/108807947678408201479/gphoto/6051485415488193042?gl=au&heading=348&pitch=90&fovy=75•

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.3948189,132.4544769,3a,75y,348h,90t/da
ta=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1se2WlOd3QamMAAAQfCWELCA!2e0!3e11