Ehime Prefecture

Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefectural Sports Complex, Ehime Government Center

Uwajima City, Uwajima Fisheries High School

On  February 10, 2015, 100 Friendship Blossoms dogwood trees were planted at Ehime Prefectural Sports Complex and Ehime Government Center in Matsuyama City and at Uwajima Fisheries High School in Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture. The State of Hawaii and Ehime Prefecture entered into a sister relationship as a way to foster understanding and build friendship following the tragic Ehime Maru incident, the collision of an Uwajima Fisheries High School training ship with a U.S. submarine in waters near Honolulu in February 2001. The boat sank, resulting in the loss of nine crew, including four students. Since then, numerous good-will initiatives have begun between Ehime and Hawaii, including annual youth baseball team exchanges, summer internships for Hawaii students in Ehime and sister school relationships and visits. The dogwood trees will further these friendship efforts.

Kochi Prefecture

Tosashimizu City, Toshishimizu Park

On Februaru 8, 2015, 20 Friendship Blossoms dogwood trees were planted at Tosashimizu Park in Tosashimizu City, Kochi Prefecture. As the birthplace of John Manjiro, a pioneer of U.S.-Japan relations, Kochi Prefecture has undertaken to maintain and develop the friendship between the countries. In particular, in memory of the friendship between Manjiro and Captain William Whitfield, who rescued Manjiro when he was a castaway, the Manjiro Festival is held each year. The location alternates between Manjiro’s hometown of Tosashimizu and Whitfield’s Massachusetts hometown of Fairhaven. This festival has become a locus of grassroots international cooperation between our two countries.