Aichi Prefecture

Anjo City, Denpark, Anjo Park, Anjo Senior High School of Agriculture and Forestry

On April 20, 2013, 20 Friendship Blossoms dogwoods were planted at Denpark and Anjo Park in Anjo City, Aichi Prefecture. Denpark was built to reflect the historic reputation of Anjo City as a center of agriculture and farming, with the name of the park mirroring Anjo's nickname of the Denmark of Japan. Anjo Park is a popular site for cherry blossom viewing. Anjo City has been sister cities with Hunting Beach, California since 1982. 

On April 16, 2015, Anjo Senior High School of Agriculture and Forestry held a planting ceremony where 30 dogwood trees were planted. Teachers and representatives from the school’s alumni association participated. On May 20, 2013, eight Friendship Blossoms dogwoods were planted at the Anjo Senior High School of Agriculture and Forestry in Anjo City, Aichi Prefecture. The school's Future Farmers of Japan organization has yearly student exchanges with the Future Farmers of America. (see image above)

Handa City, Government building

Handa City has been a sister city of Midland City, Michigan for 31 years and has administered summer exchange programs between Japanese and U.S. high school students. 200 cherry blossom trees were given to Midland City and planted in the city parks. Handa City chose to plant 20 Friendship Blossoms dogwood trees by their government building to symbolize the strong bond between U.S. and Japanese citizens.

Nagoya City, Todagawa Green

On December 10, 2013, 20 Friendship Blossoms dogwoods were planted on the Todagawa Green by the Family Sports Plaza in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture. At the planting, Nagoya mayor Kawamura Takashi commented that, "I hope that the friendship between America and Japan continues forever while looking at these trees.”

Tokai City

On April 3, 2015, a warm day in Tokai City, over a hundred children and students joined the dogwood planting ceremony. As the home of the renowned Confucianism Heishu Hosoi, mentor of Yozan Uesugi who President Kennedy admired, the mayor and people of Tokai were especially appreciative and happy to build a memorial monument with the Ambassador`s message. A total of 20 trees were planted. PHOTO

Fukui Prefecture

Obama City, Obama Athletic Facility

On November 13th, 2015, 22 Friendship Blossoms dogwood trees were planted in the Obama Athletic Facility to celebrate Obama City's friendship with the U.S. People in Obama have been fans of President Obama since he was senator and organized the citizen's group known as "Obama for Obama" and the "Obama Girls" hula troop. 

Gifu Prefecture

Gifu City, Gifu City Central Youth Center

On April 21, 2014, Friendship Blossoms dogwoods were planted at the Gifu City Central Youth Center in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture. Local officials took part in the ceremony, which was officiated by Mayor Shigemitsu Hosoe, with representatives from the U.S. Consulate in Nagoya present, including Principal Officer Harry Sullivan. Gifu City has been active in U.S.-Japan relations and has had a sister city relationship with Cincinnati, Ohio since 1988.

Gujo City

On April 22, 2015, Mr. Stephen Kovacsics, Principal Officer of the Consulate of the United States at Nagoya, participated in the planting ceremony held in Gujo City, which was also Earth Day 2015. Local school children joined the ceremony where 20 trees were planted. 

Inuyama City, Haguro Chuo Park

On April 24, 2015, 20 dogwood trees were planted at the Haguro Chuo Park in Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture. 

Ogaki City, Ogaki Municipal Kita Preschool

In 2014, 20 trees were planted at Ogaki Municipal Kita Preschool in Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture. Ogaki City is famous for its historical sights and its location on the Nakasendo Road. In modern times, Ogaki City is a sister city to Berea, Ohio and has been an active participant in furthering U.S.-Japan friendship.

Yaotsu Town, Meiso Forest

50 Friendship Blossoms were planted in Meiso Forest in Yaotsu Town on October 19, 2014. Yaotsu Town was home to Japanese diplomat Sugihara Chiune who saved over 6,000 Jewish people during the Holocaust by issuing them Japanese transit visas. JTB Group, a co-applicant for the Friendship Blossoms planting in Yaotsu, handled the transfers of funds from American Jewish relief organizations to Jewish refugees in Japan during WWII. The dogwood trees from Friendship Blossoms were planted alongside cherry trees planted as part of a five-year planting project called the "JTB Happy Earth Project," with their juxtaposition symbolizing the friendship between the U.S. and Japan. PHOTO

Ishikawa Prefecture

Kanazawa City, various locations

Kanazawa is the capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture and is famous throughout Japan for its well-preserved architecture and gold leaf industry. Kanazawa is also the location of the family home of Dr. Takamine Jokichi, one of the most famous scientists of the Meiji Period, who helped orchestrate Japan's original gift of cherry blossoms in 1912. Kanazawa was also the recipient of the Homeward Bound Project, whereby 144 scion graftings from original trees were returned from the Tidal Basin trees to Japan in 2012. On May 24, 2014, a Friendship Blossoms planting took place with 80 trees throughout the city of Kanazawa, thanks to the hard work of the Kansai American Center. The ceremony was attended by the governor of Ishikawa Prefecture, the mayor of Kanazawa, the former Ambassador to the US, Mr. Fujisaki, and the Cherry Blossom Queens of American and Japan, as well as Mr. Keith Lommel, Director of the Kansai America Center.

Niigata Prefecture

Nagaoka City, Nagaoka Institute of Design

On April 29, 2014, 100 Friendship Blossom dogwoods were planted at the Nagaoka Institute of Design in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture. The planting was attended by members of the local and regional governments, as well as a representative from the U.S. Embassy in Japan. Nagaoka City is famous for its large fireworks festival held every summer and local history tells the story of "Kome Hyappyo," or "The Hundred Bags of Rice," which demonstrates Nagaoka's spirit of investment in education and human resources. We are excited to see our Friendship Blossoms planted in a city with such a proud history of valuing education, and we look forward to seeing these blossoms grow in the future. 

Niigata City, Ikutopia Food and Flower Complex

Niigata City is the capital and most populous city of the Niigata Prefecture. Known for its rice production, Niigata Prefecture shares a lengthy border with the Sea of Japan. Right on this border is Niigata City, a historic port town and the first government-recognized city on the Sea of Japan Coast. The Friendship Blossoms were planted in June 2014 at the Ikutopia Food and Flower Complex as a celebration the 50th Anniversary with their sister city Galveston, Texas. The citizens of Niigata City highly value this relationship and resulting cultural exchange, such as their buzzing jazz culture. PHOTO

Shizuoka Prefecture

Hamamatsu City, Lake Hamana Garden Park

Hamamatsu City, located in the Shizuoka Prefecture, is bound by the Pacific Ocean on one side and by Lake Hamana on the other and boasts a beautiful mix of urban and natural landscape. The historic city used to be home to Shogunate Tokugawa Ieyasu, and the castle that he himself built still stands with integrity in the middle of the city. In addition, Hamamatsu highly values its relationships with its four sister cities: Camas, WA; Chehalis, WA; Porterville, CA; and Rochester, NY. The first Friendship Blossoms in this city were planted in the Lake Hamana Garden Park on June 15, 2014 accompanied by a beautiful planting ceremony. PHOTO

Shimoda City, parks and schools

Shimoda City in Shizuoka Prefecture has a long and well-established history of building Japan's relationship with the U.S. During the mid-19th century, Shimoda City was one of Japan's few open treaty ports, and after Commodore Perry arrived there in 1854, Shimoda City was home to the first U.S. Consulate General in Japan. Historically, the first Treaty of Amity and Commerce was signed in the area in 1858. Today, Shimoda City has continued its goodwill efforts, as the sister city to Newport, CA. In early spring 2014, 100 Friendship Blossom Dogwoods were planted in and around Shimoda City. In honor of the arrival of Commodore Perry, each year Shimoda City hosts a Black Ship Festival and the 100 trees planted at 13 local parks and schools throughout the city will be an integral part of the ceremony on May 17, 2014.

Shizuoka City, Prefectural Art Museum, and other locations

On March 31, 2015, Shizuoka Prefecture completed the planting of 30 dogwood trees at the Prefectural Art Museum.

Toyama Prefecture

Takaoka City, municipal elementary schools

On May 24, 2014, 20 Friendship Blossoms dogwood trees were planted at three municipal elementary schools located in Takaoka City, near the birthplace of global chemist Takamine Jokichi. Dr. Takamine's wishes for peace and friendship have blossomed over one hundred years in the form of cherry blossom and dogwood tree exchanges between Japan and the United States. The planting of the dogwood trees honors Dr. Takamine's wishes for global peace and environmental preservation.