Chiba Prefecture

Ichihara City, Dotaro Village

Dotaro, a sustainable village that specializes in living with nature, is located in Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture. It aims to be a direct democracy and is thought to exemplify U.S. democratic principles. In December 2015, 40 Friendship Blossoms trees were planted at Ambassador Takakazu Kuriyama's Memorial site.

 Katsuura City, Municipal Cultural Center

On November 1, 2014, 20 Friendship Blossoms dogwood trees were planted at the Municipal Cultural Center in Katsuura City, Chiba Prefecture. In 1869, the U.S. steamship Hermann was shipwrecked off the coast of Katsuura resulting in the loss of 210 Japanese soldiers and 20 Americans. Buddhist memorial services were held yearly for the Japanese victims of the wreck, but not for the Americans. In 2013, Katsuura Mayor Saruda held a memorial for both the Japanese and American victims at a meeting of the "Association to reveal the Black Ship Hermann to the World," of which he is chairman. A representative from the American embassy was present and future memorials are planned to commemorate the victims of both nationalities to strengthen ties between Katsuura and the U.S. The planting of these dogwood trees is another step to further that cause of international relations.

Kanagawa Prefecture

Kawasaki City, Tono Town Dai-Ni Park

On March 28, 2013, 25 Friendship Blossoms dogwoods were planted at Tono Town Dai-Ni Park in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture. Tono Town is sister cities with Baltimore, Maryland and has engaged in exchanges with faculty, Boy Scouts, and seniors' musician groups.

 Yokohama City, Honmoku Sancho Park

On March, 29 2013, 132 Friendship Blossoms dogwoods were planted at Honmoku Sancho Park in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture. Yokohama has a deep connection to the cherry tree gift to the U.S. which served as the impetus for the Friendship Blossoms Dogwood Initiative. The American travel writer who suggested the original gift of cherry trees in 1912, Eliza Scidmore, was based in Yokohama and is buried there as well. The cherry trees also sailed to the U.S. through the port of Yokohama.

 Yokosuka City, Route 16 and Yokosuka Shiyakusho-mae Park

 25 Friendship Blossoms dogwood trees were planted along Route 16 and in Yokosuka Shiyakusho-mae Park in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture on December 10, 2014. Yokosuka is host to a U.S. Naval base which holds open-base festivals to encourage friendship between the U.S. and Japan. Since 1962, Yokosuka has been a sister city of Corpus Christi, Texas and for the last 42 years has exchanged two high school students annually. The dogwood trees were requested with the goal of increasing awareness of cultural and educational exchanges between the two countries.

 Saitama Prefecture

 Saitama City, Saitama Prefectural Cancer Center, Minuma Green Center, and Saitama City Hall

On 25 October 2013, 52 trees were planted in Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture, including sites at the Saitama Prefectural Cancer Center, the Minuma Green Center, and the Saitama City Hall.

 Niiza City, Rikkyo Gakuin

On January 21, 2014, 42 Friendship Blossoms dogwoods were planted by Rikkyo Gakuin, on their Ikebukuro campus in Toshima City, Tokyo and their Niiza campus in Niiza City, Saitama Prefecture.

 Tokyo

Chiyoda Ward, Kioi Hall, Yukio Ozaki Memorial Foundation at Kensei Kinenkan

On February 18, 2014, two Friendship Blossoms dogwoods were planted at Kioi Hall, in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, with generous support from Nippon Steel & Sumimoto Metal Corporation Arts Foundation.

Between April 2013 and October 2015, 20 Friendship Blossoms dogwood trees were planted by the Yukio Ozaki Memorial Foundation at Kensei Kinenkan, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. Yukio Ozaki served as mayor of Tokyo and gifted the cherry trees from Japan to the U.S. that inspired the Friendship Blossoms Dogwood Tree Initiative. The Yukio Ozaki Memorial Foundation was established in 1956 to spread Ozaki's ideas and philosophy.  PHOTO

 Chuo Ward, Akaishi Greenway, St. Luke’s International University and Hospital

On October 19, 2014, 20 Friendship Blossoms dogwoods were planted along the Akaishi Greenway in Chuo Ward, Tokyo. Akaishi Town has a long history of international relationships, with the development of a foreigner community in 1869 and the location of a U.S. legation built in 1874.

Fussa City, Fukuto Park

On January 31, 2014, 30 Friendship Blossoms dogwoods were planted at Fukuto Park, Fussa City, Tokyo. In 1945, Fussa City gave one-third of its land to U.S. Yokota Air Base, and their close connection to the U.S. has continued since that time.

Ginza, Sukiyabashi Park

20 Friendship Blossoms dogwood trees were planted in Sukiyabashi Park, Tokyo. The park is located at the entrance of Ginza, a thriving, well-visited international center for tourism and commerce. The planting represents foreign exchange and commercial ties between the United States and Japan. 

Mitaka City, International Christian University

On January 27, 2015, 20 Friendship Blossoms dogwood trees were planted at the International Christian University (ICU) in Mitaka City, Tokyo. ICU welcomed its first class in 1953 and, in part, owed its establishment to the support of General Douglas MacArthur and its growth in its early decades to the generous support of Christian churches in the U.S. In its 61 years, ICU has maintained close ties with U.S. universities and has welcomed thousands of American students to its campus as exchange students. The university has also maintained close ties with the Embassy of the U.S. in Tokyo and has welcomed numerous ambassadors to the campus to meet with faculty and students. Ambassador Caroline Kennedy attended the planting ceremony after participating in a discussion with 40 ICU students.

Mizuho Town, Hakonegasaki Station Nishi Hiroba, Mizuho Eco Park, other sites

On 11 October 2013, 20 trees were planted in Mizuho Town, Tokyo at Hakonegasaki Station Nishi Hiroba, Mizuho Eco Park, and other sites throughout the town. Mizuho is the site of the U.S. Yokota Air Base and has been sister cities with Morgan Hill, California since 2006.

 Setagaya Ward, Futako Tamagawa Park, Tokyo Metropolitan Engei High School

On April 14, 2013, 53 Friendship Blossoms dogwoods were planted at Futako Tamagawa Park, in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo. Known as "Dogwood Town", the symbol of Futako Tamagawa is the dogwood tree, and there is an annually held dogwood tree festival held there. Futako Tamagawa is also home to a dogwood donated by the U.S. 100 years ago, and a dogwood tree donated in 2000 by Ohio Senator Robert Taft, the great-grandson of President William Howard Taft.

 Shibuya Ward, Yoyogi Park

Yoyogi Park, in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward, is one of the largest parks in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Located on the grounds of the first powered flight in Japan in 1910, Yoyogi was the site of the Olympic Village during the 1964 Summer Olympics. The Yoyogi Park planting was the first planting in the Friendship Blossoms initiative and took place on November 16, 2012. The event was attended by U.S. Ambassador to Japan John V. Roos and Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Tara D. Sonenshine representing the United States, and Acting Governor of Tokyo Naoki Inose representing Tokyo. Acting Governor Inose stated that, “Future generations will enjoy the shade of these trees for as long as we can foresee. They symbolize a friendship that is already strong and enduring.” Vice Chairman of the U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation Thierry Porté and Bridging Scholar Heather Solaequi also participated in the planting of the dogwood trees. 

Tachikawa City, Showa Memorial Park, Farmers’ Center

On May 12, 2013, 26 Friendship Blossoms dogwoods were planted in the Showa Memorial Park and the Farmers' Center in Tachikawa City, Tokyo. The park is the former location of the U.S. Tachikawa air base. Tachikawa City has sister relations with San Bernardino, California, and the two cities conduct a yearly student exchange.

 Toshima City, Rikkyo Gakuin

 On January 21, 2014, 42 Friendship Blossoms dogwoods were planted by Rikkyo Gakuin on their Ikebukuro campus in Toshima City,Tokyo and their Niiza campus in Niiza City, Saitama Prefecture. Rikkyo Gakuin was founded in 1874 by Bishop Channing Moore Williams, a missionary of the U.S. Episcopal Church, and the school has continuously worked to help foster relations with the United States. The planting site on the Ikebukuro campus is adjacent to the Paul Rusch Athletic Center, dedicated to a Rikkyo professor who was a member of General MacArthur's staff and introduced American football to Japan.