Planting
Ceremony

2005

Revive Time・Kaki Tree ProjectINDEX
19 AprUpdated in 2020

City Museum of Ljubljana
Ljubljana, Slovenia

21 AprSarcedo Primary School
Sarcedo,VI, Italy

21 AprZugliano Primary School
Zugliano,VI, Italy

22 AprMontecchio Precalcino LibraryMontecchio Precalcino,VI, Italy

22 AprDueville Primary School
Dueville,VI, Italy

23 AprArnaldo Fusinato Primary, Junior High School
Breganze,VI, Italy

23 AprC.Collodi Primary School
Thiene,VI, Italy

24 Apr

Pro Loco of Villaverla
Villaverla,VI, Italy

26 AprSan Pietro Mussolino Middle School
San Pietro Mussolino,VI, Italy

27 AprFaetano Park
Faetano, Republic of San Marino

29 AprCollection Lambert en Avignon
Avignon, France

30 AprEcole Primaire Saint-Gabriel
Avignon, France

08 MayJapanese Garden Hasselt
Hasselt, Belgium

13 MayYumenomori Kindergarten
Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa,Japan

14 MayHara Museum ARC
Shibukawa-shi, Gunma,Japan

03 JunCollingwood School
Vancouver,Canada

Vicenza
VI ,Italy

Ehigashi Elementary School
Ogaki-shi, Gifu,Japan

Arasaki Elementary School
Ogaki-shi, Gifu,Japan

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2005 Planting Ceremony

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

City Museum of Ljubljana
Slovenia
Ljubljana
19 Apr 2005

Mrs. Nada Kirn Spolar, head of SEZAM,

was exhibited in the museum hall. The second

the Association of Parents and Children, is

graders of Bozidar Jakac Ljubljana Elementaryenthusiastic about the project and has carried

School wrote poems on strips of paper andout tree plantings at the Debeli Rtic, Redcrosshanded them to the visitors of the museum.

Ljubljana and Anton Ukmar Elementary School

40 pupils of Anton Ukmar Elementary School,

in 2000. The City Museum of Ljubljana exhibits

where the tree planting took place five years

the history of the city. Mrs. Spolar thought

earlier, came from Koper by bus and sangthat the courtyard of the museum would be“Sakura Sakura” in Japanese. Ms. Marjeta

the ideal place and repeatedly contacted theGodler, a faculty member of University

person in charge of the museum, however,of Science and industry, conducted Kaki

the courtyard was gone after the renovation.

Origami workshop and the finished origami

Therefore, though the ceremony and workshop

works were displayed at the museum lobby.

were held at the museum, the seedling was

Ms. Taeko Fujita who runs a sushi restaurant

planted in a pot for the time being and will be

there also conducted the workshop on how

planted in the ground of the Tivoli Park two or

to use chopsticks.

three years later. The park is the largest one
in the city and the favorite recreational area of

The ceremony was attended by Mr. Milos,

the citizen.

the deputy mayor, and Taja Vovk Cepic,
the director of the museum. In the presence

Thanks to Mrs. Spolar’s call for cooperation,of Mr. Ebinuma and Miyajima, the tree wasmany people conducted workshops forplanted in a pot. The ceremony filled withchildren. Mr. Primoz Seliskar, an artist, anda variety of workshops was covered by athe local elementary school children together

number of local media and produced a lot ofcreated a large persimmon tree drawing, It

reaction and inspired people.

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2005 Planting Ceremony1Sarcedo Primary School
Italy
Sarcedo, VI
21 Apr 2005

As Mrs. Mari Sakaguchi and her husband Mr.
Denis Pesavento who live in Villaverla in theprovince of Vicenza, Italy, participated in thetree plating ceremony held at the Villa Venier
Park in Sommacampagna in 2004 and were
inspired by it, they wanted to organize theproject in the province of Vicenza as well.
They consulted with Mr. Rosario Manisera
who led the project in Brescia and contacted
the person in charge of cultural programs
at the Villaverla city hall in order to proceedwith the project. Although their original plan

One of these sites, Scuola Elementare

was to plant the tree at one site in the city,

Sarcedo is a private school with an adjacent

the plan was even discussed at the provincial

middle school. The tree planting ceremony

assembly and at the end a simple plan had

was held at 8:45 in the morning of the 21st

tuned into a big project with 10 tree plantingof April as part of their classes. The sky wassites in the province.

clear and we could view the mountains in the
distance. The ceremony was attended by themayor, the principal of the school and about
80 students from the school. After speeches
were given by the mayor and Mr. Ebinuma,
children put up their drawings of the atomic
bomb and persimmon tree and sang a songand read poems. A very beautiful ceremonythat was held at a place rich in nature.

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2005 Planting Ceremony2Zugliano Primary School
Italy
Zugliano, VI
21 Apr 2005

Following the ceremony at Scuola Elementare Sarcedo, thetree planting ceremony took place at 10:15 am at Zugliano
Elementary School.
Here, children participated in the ceremony wearing blacksmocks. It started with the speech by the principal of theschool and then the children read their poems. As boys putup their persimmon tree drawing, the representative of the cityand the children planted the tree. It was the ceremony thatprojected sincerity of people under the blue sky.

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2005 Planting Ceremony

3

Montecchio Precalcino Library
Italy
Montecchio Precalcino,VI
22 Apr 2005

As Mrs. Mari Sakaguchi and her husband

ceremony at

Mr. Denis Pesavento who live in Villaverla in

the Montecchio

the province of Vicenza, Italy participated in

Precalcino

the tree plating ceremony at the Villa Venier

Library took

Park in Sommacampagna, held in 2004, theyplace from 9 am

wanted to organize the project in the province

on the 22nd.

of Vicenza. They consulted with Mr. Rosario
Manisera who led the project in Brescia and

About 250

contacted the person in charge of cultural

children from 4

programs at the Villaverla city hall in order toelementary andproceed with the project. Their original plan

middle schools

was to plant the tree at one site in the city,

near the library

however, the matter was even discussed

participated inat the provincial assembly and at the end it

the ceremony.

became a big project with 10 tree planting
sites in the province of Vicenza.

After the speeches given by the principalof the school, the mayor and Mr. Ebinuma,

Following the tree plantings at Scuolachildren of Montecchio Elementary School

Elementare Sarcedo and Zugliano Elementarysang a song as they waved colorful scarves

School on 21st of April, the tree planting

accompanied by their teacher on guitar.
The “child mayor” introduced the lyrics ofthe peace song of Israel and the middle
school students performed the song with
instruments such as guitar, recorder anddrums. The tree planting took place in the
courtyard and children held the shovel inturns to cover the seedling with soil. The
ceremony was attended by a lot of children
and was full of energy.

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2005 Planting Ceremony4

Dueville Primary School
Italy
Dueville, VI
22 Apr 2005

As Mrs. Mari Sakaguchi and her husband

the 22nd, the tree planting ceremony at

Mr. Denis Pesavento who live in Villaverla inDueville Elementary School was carried out at

the province of Vicenza, Italy participated in

10:30am on the same day.

the tree plating ceremony at the Villa Venier
Park in Sommacampagna, held in 2004, they

The students at Dueville Elementary School

wanted to organize the project in the province

spend 3 weeks prior to the ceremony toof Vicenza. They consulted with Mr. Rosario

create various works of art and drawings,

Manisera who led the project in Brescia andand those were displayed in the auditorium.

contacted the person in charge of cultural

These works on display were very large andprograms at the Villaverla city hall in order toone of them was a persimmon tree almost

proceed with the project. Their original plan

2 meters high. The ceremony held in thewas to plant the tree at one site in the city,

auditorium was attended by 100 students

however, the matter was even discussed

and the representatives of the students didat the provincial assembly and at the end itsome performances with a theme of peacebecame a big project with 10 tree planting

and read their poems. Tree planting wassites in the province of Vicenza.

carried out outside as the children surrounded
the tree in a circle. Following the principal of

Following the tree plantings at Scuola

the school, each student held a big shovel

Elementare Sarcedo and Zugliano Elementary

and took turns covering the tree with soil. A

School on 21st of April, and at thevery cheerful ceremony as the teachers andMontecchio Precalcino Library at 9am on

students were united and joined together.

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2005 Planting Ceremony

5

Arnaldo Fusinato Primary,Junior High School
Italy
Breganze, VI
23 Apr 2005

At the elementary school, 150 children

detected inattended the ceremony held in the gym.

Nagasaki?”,

Following the speeches made by the“Does Japan

principal, cultural councilor and Mr. Ebinuma,

possess atomic

there were songs and performances by thebombs?”, “Arechildren. Above all, the song “We are thethose people

world” sung by the fifth graders was sowith thebeautiful that some of the participants wereatomic bomb disease still alive?”, “What are

moved to tears.

the effects on children of the atomic bomb
victims?”. In the corridor that leads outside,

After the ceremony at the elementaryart works with a theme of persimmon treeschool, they all moved to the middle school.

were displayed. Tree planting took place with

The students made a presentation of their

80 students from the middle school. Eachstudy on the atomic bombs in Nagasaki

student took turns covering the tree withand Hiroshima which was followed by asoil. The ceremony’s atmosphere was a little

Q&A session. There were very serious andbit more mature compared to the one at the

deep questions such as “Is radioactivity stillelementary school.

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2005 Planting Ceremony

6

C.Collodi Primary School
Italy
Thiene, VI
23 Apr 2005

Following the tree plantings at Scuola Elementare Sarcedo
and Zugliano Elementary School on 21st of April, at theMontecchio Precalcino Library and Dueville Middle School on
22nd, and at Arnaldo Fusinato Elementary School at 9am andArnaldo Fusinato Middle School at 10am on 23rd, the tree
planting at Collodi Elementary School took place at 11am on
the same day.
The school is located in the city of Tiene and its name istaken from the author of Pinocchio, Carlo Collodi.
On the day of the tree planting ceremony, many art works
created beforehand were on display inside the school, whichwere inspired by the persimmon tree. During the ceremony
there were speeches given by the mayor, the principal of theschool and Mr. Ebinuma as well as a Q&A session wherea question such as “Is the bomb survived parent tree still
alive?” was raised. As the local TV station was covering theevent, it was an exciting and lively ceremony.

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2005 Planting Ceremony

7

Pro Loco of Villaverla
Italy
Villaverla, VI
24 Apr 2005

Following the tree plantings at Scuola

the tree in the park. After the tree planting,Elementare Sarcedo and Zugliano Elementary

people enjoyed the exhibitions held inside the

School on 21st of April, at the Montecchio

building and various workshops conducted by

Precalcino Library and Dueville Middle School

the Associazione Culturale Fuji, which also

on 22nd, and at Arnaldo Fusinato Elementarycooperated with us last year.

School, Middle School, and at Collodi
Elementary School on 23rd, the tree planting

The local fresco artists Mr. Hideo Sakata andat Villaverla Park took place on 24th. The

his wife Yumiko exhibited their banner and as

Villaverla Park was the last planting site ofother artworks and drawings by the school

the 10 planned for the project. The place has

children where the seedlings had been planted

become a symbolic planting site of the province

until the previous day were displayed again,of Vicenza where Mrs. Mari and Mr. Denis’so the place seemed to turn into a museum

determination towards peace culminated.

of Kaki. There were also an exhibition ofphotos of Hiroshima and Nagasaki after the

There is an old building inside the park which

atomic bombings as well as a large scale

is used as the children’s community center.

exhibition of the local artists including some

There, the displays and workshops that

installations with a theme of “Peace”

occupied the entire space were impressively
powerful but at the same time created a

There were a great number of events andwarm atmosphere. As many residents ofworkshops to introduce Japanese culture

the city, both adults and children, flocked

and to promote international exchange

to the site, the access was limited at one

including the workshops by the members

point. The ceremony held inside the buildingof the Associazione Culturale Fuji of

was attended by about 200 local people.

Yukata-wearing, Japanese calligraphy,

After the speeches given by the mayor, Mr.

Origami and tea ceremony. There were also

Nishiyama of the Japanese Consulate and Mr.

demonstrations of the Japanese archery andEbinuma, they all went outside and planted

Japanese art of drawing one’s sward.

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2005 Planting Ceremony

8

San Pietro Mussolino
Middle School
Italy
San Pietro Mussolino, VI
26 Apr 2005

San Pietro Mussolino Middle School is locatedchildren performed the part from the atomic

in a small town far from the station and closebombing until reviving of the seedling, andto the mountains. During the Second World

they put children’s drawings together at theWar, this town was also attacked and someend so a huge tree emerged on the black

anecdotes of the bishop and people who

cloth. Also, as the younger kindergarten

barricaded themselves in the church at thatchildren wave pompoms in rhythm, thetime are still passed down. On the wall of thechildren who dressed up as trees read poems

government office right behind the school,and sang songs. They succeeded in making athere is a mosaic that depicts the destruction

wonderful large scale performance by letting

during the war and at the church, there ischildren of different ages from kindergartena monument to preserve the memory of it..

to middle school do whatever they can doThis middle school is a branch school of

to make it together. After the concert and

Scuola Media Statale “G. Ungaretti” wherea speech made by the local member of

the tree planting took place in 2000. The

Parliament in the gym, the tree was planted

person who led the project, Mr. Livio Fedrigo,

in the schoolyard.

is an art teacher and also
participated in the tree

There is a voluntary self-planting ceremony held

defense group in theat F.P. Cordenons Middle

city called Alpini which

School in Santa Maria diconsisted of former

Sala, Venizia in 2000.

soldiers. These Alpini
members and children’s

About 200 children from

Kaki Tree Committee

the local elementary andmembers will take care

middle schools and Japanese kindergartenof the tree. Since the mayor assigned theparticipated in the tree planting ceremony.

Alpini members the task of protecting andFollowing the opening speech and a speechtaking care of the persimmon tree, they wereof welcome given by the child mayor (amarching while protecting the tree during thegirl), there was a performance. It was aceremony. One of the Alpini members told

story about the seedling revived from theus in Italian “I read the news of the atomic

ground that was covered with the ashes ofbomb in the newspaper during the war. I was

the atomic bomb and black rain. The elder

very much concerned.”

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2005 Planting Ceremony

9Faetano Park
Repubblica di San Marino
Faetano27 Apr 2005

the ceremony was announced.
About 100 children including pupils from
Scuola Elementare Il Mulino and about 250
adults attended the ceremony. Various
authorities such as the cultural attache ofthe embassy of the republic of San Marino,
the mayor of Faetano, Secretary of State,
Minister of Education, the representative ofWhen Ms. Daniela Tonelli visited the Kaki Tree

the San Marino-Japan Friendship Association,

Project exhibit at the Venice Biennale in 1999,

the Honorary Consul-General of Japan in

she found out that they were recruiting foster

San Marino and a minister from the Embassy

parents for the seedlings. She wanted toof Japan in Italy attended the ceremony.

participate in the project and already started to

After the speeches given by the guests, Mr.

exchange letters with the project’s secretariat,

Augusto Michelotti recited his poems. Medical

however, it was not realized at that time due

therapist Ms. Marina Zavoli told the story

to her work commitments. Then in 2004, anthat the republic of San Marino accepted

official application from Ms. Daniela for the

many refugees during the Second World War

project at the State Museum of the Republic

since the republic is a neutral country. The

of San Marino arrived and the project wastree was planted by children and each of

finally going to take place after 5 years.

them used a small shovel to cover the treewith soil. It

Prior to the tree planting ceremony, Ms.

is temporarily

Daniela Tonelli, Ms. Silvia Merli and Ms. Milena

planted in the

Zanotti conducted the workshop, in which

Faetano Park

they created art works from natural materials

and it will bewith children. They used materials such aslater moved

chocolate, strawberries, coffee, etc. insteadto Il Mulino

of ordinary paints and drew a tree by making

Elementary

prints of their hands and bodies on the paper,

School whichand pasted out-of-focus photos of children’s

will be open infaces that looked like shouting over the

September.

surface. Mr. Antonio Felici and Ms. Daniela also
made a poster and then the commencement of
Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2005 Planting Ceremony10Collection Lambert en Avignon
FranceAvignon
29 Apr 2005

The Kaki Tree Project took part in the “Donaiyanen”
exhibition in Paris in 1998 and “Akimahen” exhibition in Lillein 2004. Mr. Eric Mezil was the person who organized these
exhibitions. He is now the director of the Collection Lambert
and the museum took a lead in finding another foster parent
within the city for the seedling, and they decided Ecole
Primaire Saint-Gabriel to be the planting site as well.
Originally, the tree planting at the museum was scheduledduring the coming “Eejanaika” exhibition, however, it was
postponed in accordance with the planned tree planting
ceremony at the primary school so that the tree would beplanted in the premises of the museum at the same as theprimary school.
Under the clear blue sky, the ceremony was held. Inside themuseum building, artworks created during the workshop
prior to the ceremony were displayed and they decorated
the museum gate, trees and other places with notes withpeace messages written on them. Children wore persimmon
leaves made of cloth and the plates inscribed with letters inregard to peace and persimmon tree were displayed on thewalls of the museum. About 150 people including children
attended the ceremony and in the presence of Mr. Ebinuma
the participants held orange and yellow-green balloons withwhich peace messages were tied and paraded around themuseum together with the seedling. When they reached
the planting site, children planted and covered the seedlingwith soil. After the tree planting, they released orange andyellow-green balloons into the sky and everybody put their
persimmon origami and flowers around the seedling andplaced flags in the surroundings. The site looked like a pieceof installation work after all.
Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2005 Planting Ceremony

11

Saint-Gabriel Primary School
FranceAvignon
30 Apr 2005

mushroom cloud of the atomic bomb was
dropped and they did the performance on“death,” which was brought by the mushroom
cloud, and “revival.” During the performance,children handed out the persimmon origami
pieces containing soil to visitors. Afterward,
all the children put a large white cloth overtheir heads and marched to the planting site.
Children carried out the tree planting and
The school has been active in peace movementfor 7 years and continues to be engaged in the
movement together with local NPOs.
Prior to tree planting, children sent us at thethen a picture-card show of “Sadako’s Story”
was performed. It was a wonderful ceremony
for these children were preparing for thisoccasion for many months and they havelearned well from this opportunity.

secretariat their messages and the recordingsof the workshops. Artworks created during
the workshops that had been conductedsince a few months ago are displayed inside
the school. All over the school, artworks on
persimmon tree, conflict and communication
are displayed, and photos of children’s
performance that they did in pairs are pasted
on the persimmon tree drawing on the wall.
These photos are also displayed outside andthey decorated with many cloths with words
on peace and the bomb survived persimmon
tree written on them just like the museum of
the Collection Lambert.
About 200 people including children, theirparents and neighbors attended the ceremony.
A large gray curtain that represented the
Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2005 Planting Ceremony

12

Japanese Garden Hasselt
Belgium
Hasselt
8 May 2005

Mr. Simon Saelens and Ms. Rika Colpaert of detree planting

kunstbank wanted to apply for the project after

ceremony ofseeing the display of the Kaki Tree Project at

the seedlingthe “Akimahen” Exhibition in Lille. They also

from thecame to Japan before the actual tree planting

bombed tree

for a meeting. De Kunstbank is a Belgian group

was held inwhich organizes art exhibitions at museums as

conjunction

well as projects such as traveling exhibitions andwith thisworkshops as educational program nationwide.

special day.
The planting

Six workshops were held over three days priorsite is a sunnyto the tree planting ceremony. Ms. Lie, an interngreen space inat de Kunstbank, who performed a picture-

the Japanesecard show “Persimmon parent and child”

garden locatedin a powerful voice saying “Bomb! Bomb!”in the city.

attracted children. In the workshop “Let’s

The installation work by artist Ms. Sinikka

make your own persimmon fruit” by Ritsue

Kolehmainen was set out in the surroundings

Mishima, they made origami persimmons. Theyand big ribbons that were tied to the trees

wrote their names on the origami and made awelcomed the seedling. About 60 people

hole and hung these with a green thread on a

including the mayor of Hasselt, staff members

movable board in the shape of a tree. At theof de Kunstbank, artists and children attended

workshop “Colourful wishes” by Mr. Simon,

the ceremony. An origami workshop was held

he asked children “What is peace?” and thein a tent and they marched to the planting

children wrote their answers in Flemish onsite in the garden holding the seedling ina strip of paper in persimmon color and theone hand as they rang bells. The planting

executive committee member of the projectsite was adorned with the triangular flags

translated them into Japanese and wrote themthat are always used for festive occasions.

on the second strip of paper. Afterward, these

The executive committee member read thestrips were also hung on the board. On thesemessage from Mr. Ebinuma and presented

strips of paper, messages such as “Not toKaki-no-ki Furoshiki (Persimmon tree wrapping

hate people, always love people”, “Peace, nocloth). Children planted the seedling and cutout

war and a lot of friends” and “Friendship, no

pictures of the children that were taken during

war!!!” are written.

the workshop holding their messages stood on
the ground surrounding the tree. Although it

Every year in Belgium, the 8th of May is therains often in Belgium, the weather was fine

day to “commemorate the end of the war.” Theduring the ceremony.

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2005 Planting Ceremony

13

Yumenomori Kindergarten
Japan
Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa
13 May 2005

Kakinomi Kindergarten is a very large scale

platform stage by a teacher who was once akindergarten with about 1,400 children.

director of a kindergarten and the kids were

Within its broad premises that stretch in the

all absorbed by it. Being watched over by amountain (almost the whole mountain), there

lot of participants, 6 boys on behalf of theare children’s workshop “Atelier Kaki-no-

children cover the seedling with soil. The

mi (persimmon),” play-area with underfloor

planting site was on the steep slope andmaze and a large slide next to the slope

those boys did a very good job though at

which they can go all the way down the hill.

times almost slide down the slope.

A new kindergarten called “Yumenomori”
Kindergarten, which is run by the same

After the tree planting, the workshop “Let’sorganization, will be open 5 minutes away fromdraw a line in the air. Let’s play with wind”

Kakinomi Kindergarten. Mr. Shinichi Yano,for 25 kindergarten children was conducted

the representative of the “Atelier Kaki-no-mi”,

by “Atelier Kaki-no-mi.” Children tied on end

applied for the project and two seedlings fromof (suzuran?) tapes in various colors roundthe bombed tree were going to be planted in

the trees and held the other end and walked

the premises of the new kindergarten.

around the woods. Children who went far orwent up the mountain slope tied their tapes

About 25 newly enrolled children who werearound the trees they found on the way.

looking forward to the new kindergarten,

As time went by, there were a number of

their parents and staff members attended thecolorful lines of tapes running in the woods

tree planting ceremony held in the woods.

and they made an interesting sound as

After speeches given by the director ofthey flapped in the wind. It was a very nicethe kindergarten, Mr. Ebinuma and Tatsuo

installation. It was a bit pity that the work

Miyajima, the picture-card show “Persimmon

did not remain there, however, it was aparent and child” was performed. It wasmemorable workshop as children seemed toperformed outside without any proper

be enjoying very much.

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2005 Planting Ceremony

14

Hara Museum ARC
Japan
Shibukawa, Gunma
13 May 2005

‘Tree Doctor'” workshop. At the workshop“Let’s try to ‘revive’ – from tree to tree,”the participants used scrap wood that theyfound in the premises and together withorigami pieces and paper balloons they made3 collage works of persimmon trees. On theleaves of the trees, messages for “peace” by
the children are written.
At the ceremony, the trees that were
The exhibition “Revive Time” Kaki Tree
Project in Hara Museum Arc, which was held
prior to tree planting from November 2004
through January 2005, was over and on 14thof May, 4 months after the exhibition, theseedling from the bombed tree was planted in
the premises of the museum.
On the day of the tree planting ceremony, afew workshops were held with the keywords
such as “Life”, “Revival” and “Future.” During
the early morning workshop conducted by
Makiko Matsuoka from Matusoka Art Studio,children drew the morning landscape of the“revived” during the workshop were set out
around the seedling from the bombed tree.
Tree planting was carried out by the children
who took part in the ceremony and they
took turns in covering the root with soil.
A workshop was held after the ceremony
too and a picture-card show “Persimmon
parent and child” by artist Anken Kidani was
performed at the garden of the museum.
A large persimmon tree picture on the wallinside the museum which was created during
the workshop in November last year was
displayed for this occasion and the three“revived” trees were also exhibited.

ranch with the persimmon
tree and the workshop was
broadcast live on NHK. Treedoctor Mr. Masayuki Ebinuma
and Mr. Nobuo Koike gave atalk on the persimmon tree
and life during “Let’s talk with

Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2005 Planting Ceremony15Collingwood School
CanadaVancouver
3 Jun 2005

Collingwood School is a large private school

At Collingwood

with 1,100 students ages from 5 to 18 andSchool, there

160 teaching staff. This is a sister school ofis an “Alumni

Mulgrave School, where tree planting took place

Homecoming

in 2003. Ms. Meghan McAlister, then a student

Day” onceat Collingwood School, heard about the tree

every year. The

planting at Mulgrave School from her friend andtree planting

applied for the project on behalf of the school.

was planned as a gift from the alumni to

She applied while she was still at the school,current students to celebrate the day. The tree

however, since she expected to graduate fromplanting ceremony took place with attendees

the school in 2004, Head of Senior School

such as alumni, students representing current

Ms. Lisa Evans took over the project.

students, Vice-Consul of the Japanese
Consulate, vice principal of the school andlocal media. It started off with an opening
address by Ms. Evans and then a message (onhistory of the persimmon tree and the meaningof presenting the trees from alumni to current
students) addressed to current students wasread by Ms. McAlister. A speech was givenby the Vice-Consul of the Japanese Consulate
and the message from Mr. Ebinuma was readby the executive committee member of the
project. The students representing current

As Collingwood School has exchange

students read the texts written on the panels

programs so students from various countries

that were to be set up near the trees. Twocome learn together at the school. Meanwhile,trees were planted on the day. One is planted

the vice principal has chosen “Sadako’s Story

at the Upper school (where children ages from(a story of a girl who was an atomic bomb

12 to 16 attend) and the other one is planted

victim)” as a reading material in his/her classat the Preparatory school (where children ages

and learned about the atomic bomb together

from 8 to 11 attend). A Friend/Friends of Ms.

with the students. The school also emphasizes

McAlister who participated in the tree planting

on art education and displayed artworks byat Mulgrave School in 2003 also attended thechildren that expressed how they perceive

ceremony. A Japanese student’s mother came

“What is peace?” with pictures and words.

over to the school and helped her child andAs the tree planting day coincided with theMs. Evans dress in Yukata so that those twoschool’s “Art Day,” even more works than

could attend the ceremony in Yukata.

usual were on display.
Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project | 2005 Planting Ceremony

16